As a cop, you face all kinds of trouble on the streets, but today, there is a new enemy out there: COVID-19.

By now, you have received instructions on how to keep yourself safe when dealing with the public and taking calls for service; however, you may not know how to disinfect your duty gear after contact with a known or potentially infected person.

Step one is to develop a mindset of survival — not unlike the mindset you already have for dealing with the everyday rigors of police work on the streets. The only difference now is that the bad guy is microscopic and very contagious. So prepare yourself for this fight. If you have the proper “tools” in your proverbial toolbox, use them. Those tools may include hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray and masks. However, what should you do when those “tools” aren't available? You improvise. For example, if you don't have a mask, use a bandana or t-shirt. No hand sanitizer? Make some with alcohol and Aloe Vera gel.

You can stay healthy, and you can protect your family from the coronavirus at the same time. One of your responsibilities is to disinfect your uniform and duty gear after each shift. The following video details what to do when you need to decontaminate your gear, your uniform and yourself.