To keep officers safe from coronavirus infection, the City of Mt. Pleasant, Mich., is offering personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves and encouraging proper handwashing techniques, social distancing, and use of hand sanitizers. This month, it also added ultraviolet lights to disinfect its police vehicles, the city stated in its monthly newsletter.

The city purchased UV lights because it is believed that the lights can alter the DNA and RNA of bacteria and viruses, destroying their ability to reproduce. These lights disinfect the inside of a police or city vehicle in two minutes, but does not replace standard safety hygiene protocols, according to the city.

The city purchased two UV lights at $1,500 each and are also using them to sanitize N95 masks for reuse as well as other vehicle such as fire trucks and street sweepers, Epicenter Mt. Pleasant reported.