Whether it is a pedestrian investigation on a busy street, taking the report of a crime or placing a person in custody, police officers have physical contact with people throughout their busy work day. With that contact, comes the risk of being exposed to various infections such as hepatitis A. As a registered nurse working on a floor in a hospital, the training I’ve received reminds me almost automatically to wash my hands before making contact with patients in their hospital rooms. If any of my equipment such as my stethoscope or blood pressure cuff becomes dirty, I know to clean it before using it with another patient. I don’t believe this type of training is commonplace in law enforcement. In my 29 years as a police officer, I can’t recall receiving very much training about keeping my hands or equipment clean. It is possible to be infected with diseases with only casual contact.