Municipal police departments in Carbon County have designated officers who will have countywide jurisdiction in the event of an emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic.

District Attorney Michael Greek recently announced the establishment of the Carbon County COVID-19 Law Enforcement Task Force.

Greek said it will “ensure the continuation of police services in the event of debilitating staffing shortages affecting public protection and safety.”

Many neighboring departments already have mutual aid agreements, Greek said, and the task force would be an extension of that. Pennsylvania State Police already have statewide jurisdiction.

“This doesn’t replace the mutual aid agreements that are already active,” Greek said.

“We just wanted to extend it so that if we got in an extreme emergency and we were down to 10 officers in the county who weren’t sick. That those officers could answer calls anywhere and provide coverage.”

It is similar to the Carbon County Drug Task Force, he said, which has member officers that can bring charges in any jurisdiction.

Current staffing levels in each municipal police department remain strong, Greek said.

“This was simply a proactive move,” he said. “We hope we never have to use it and it never comes down to that.”

Lansford Police Department, on social media, said it was proud to be a part of the COVID-19 task force.

“All LPD officers are assigned to the task force,” the post said. “Because of this foresight and action by DA Greek, all of the Carbon County Police Departments are now ready and able to provide shared resources and manpower during times of emergency related to the virus.”

Several other counties, such as Lancaster, have also put a task force in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.