TEHACHAPI, Calif. — The Bear Valley Police Department recently released a statement from Chief Melanson reporting that BVPD will continue to answer all calls of service in Bear Valley.

BVPD is monitorying the COVID-19 pandemic closely and are working with the Kern County Sheriff's Office as well as local enforcement to ensure officers and first responders will be avialable.

The statement follows.

"A message from Chief Melanson:

Your Bear Valley Police Department wishes to advise Valley residents that we are carefully monitoring the state and local response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. We are working in partnership with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies to ensure that, in the event that a mass spread of the virus heavily effects law enforcement first responders, mutual aid agreements will ensure that officers will be available.

Many law enforcement agencies have opted to temporarily respond only to life-threatening and in-progress calls for service and take other reports over the phone. The Bear Valley Police Department will continue to respond to all calls for service in Bear Valley. "