Several Bowie County police departments have closed to the public due to COVID-19.
New Boston Police Department has closed due to a rise in local cases. Nash City Hall and Police Department and Wake Village City Hall and Police Department are also closed to the public.
"We had to do this at the beginning of COVID, back in March, so we are basically doing the same thing again," said Katie Jimenez, spokeswoman for New Boston Police Department.
Texarkana Texas Police Department and Texarkana Arkansas Police Department along with the Bowie County Sheriff's Office in the Bi-State Justice Building remain open to the public but masks must be worn inside the building. The Miller County Sheriff's Office and The Hooks Police Department also remains open during business hours.
All non-emergency/routine calls that require a report in New Boston will be done by telephone, Jimenez said. Officers responding to a residence will make every attempt not to go inside unless it is absolutely necessary and will be asking people to step outside when responding to a call for service. Officers will try to maintain a "social distance" of approximately six feet with persons they are interacting with.
Emergency and life threatening calls or "in progress" calls for service will be handled in the same manner as always. Officers will be required to wear gloves, and/or masks, and attempt to avoid as much contact as possible with the victim/suspect on these calls.
"Our cases are going up again and we are just trying to keep our officers healthy. We don't want our officers, our staff or the public to get sick," Jimenez said.
Anyone who needs to request a report should call the non-emergency phone number 903-628-3771, or email [email protected]. Reports will be mailed and/or emailed to the requester.
The presence of officers in the city will not change.
"We will continue to make sure New Boston is a safe place for all of our citizens," Jimenez said.
The city of Nash posted that appointments for city business such as water and sewer service and court and citation handling may be made by calling 903-838-0751 during normal business hours.
For police or fire emergencies, call 911. For other police business in Nash, call 903-838-0822.
In Wake Village, the non-emergency number is 903-798-3876.