GREATER SPRINGFIELD - Sanitation has taken on a renewed importance in the era of COVID-19 and the coronavirus that causes it. First responders are especially aware of the need to clean and sanitize surfaces with which they come in contact.

“We are offering a mobile detail service to help disinfect cruisers and emergency vehicles for police officers and other frontline responders who must be on the streets and vulnerable to exposure to the coronavirus,” Paul Frasco said in a statement. Frasco co-owns Pro & Local Mobile Detailing with his business partner Chris Vella.

They began sanitizing Springfield’s fleet on March 31 and just recently finished the fleet of over 50 cars. Pro & Local Detailing is currently working on fleets for the police departments in Ludlow, Longmeadow and East Longmeadow.

“We’re looking for more departments,” said Frasco. He said they can take on up to eight departments total and are hoping to work with first responders in West Springfield, Chicopee, Agawam and the surrounding cities and towns. They can offer departments a service that is weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or as-needed.

Pro & Local is insured and certified and all their services follow guidance from the CDC.

The business charges $60 per police vehicle for this sanitization service. For that price, Frasco and Vella give the cars “a light interior cleaning,” steam cleaning fabrics and hard surfaces with vapor heated to 350-degrees and use of environmentally-friendly disinfecting chemicals.

The company focuses on sanitizing “touchpoints” that are likely to pick up germs, such as door handles, the steering wheel, control buttons, keyboards, the dashboard, cup holders, seatbelts, and door panels using a hospital-grade cleaner.

Finally, an ozone treatment is used. As explained on Pro & Local’s website, “ozone is the second most powerful sterilizer in the world and can be used to destroy bacteria and odors.”

“It’s good to do a little deeper cleaning,” Frasco said.

Sgt. Ken Turowsky of the Springfield Police Department said since the COVID-19 Pandemic began officers have been wiping the cruisers down at shift change, but the deeper sanitation done by Pro and Local “gives us peace of mind.” He added, “They’re doing a fantastic job.”

Frasco said they began offering the service to law enforcement when he heard that a friend in California was doing the same for law enforcement there.

“It’s a good way to stay busy,” Frasco said, adding that by taking care of first responders, “you are making a difference.”

Pro & Local Detailing can be reached at 883-0881.