Vancouver police discontinue prescription delivery program

The Vancouver Police Department is discontinuing its prescription delivery program.

The police department started the pilot program April 10, following the lead of neighboring law enforcement agencies, for city residents who couldn’t go out on their own once the state’s stay-at-home order went into effect, according to a news release.

The program mainly served residents who are 65 or older and people who have health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19.

Medications were delivered by recruit officers waiting to attend the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy.

The law enforcement academy has been closed due to the pandemic.

Police spokeswoman Kim Kapp previously told The Columbian that the police department had recruits at the academy who were sent home upon its closure. Since then, the officers have been helping with the program and have undergone internal training.

Now, the recruit officers are returning to the academy to resume or start their training, “therefore the prescription delivery program will be discontinued effective (today) due to staffing availability,” the police department said.

All pending and confirmed prescription deliveries will be completed prior to the program stopping, police said.

“The program provided our recruit officers a great opportunity to serve the residents of Vancouver in advance of their training to become Vancouver police officers. Over the past six weeks, 25 prescription orders were scheduled and delivered to Vancouver residents as part of this program,” the news release says.