Whatcom police agency announces enforcement plan for coronavirus Stay at Home order
The Ferndale Police Department said its role after Gov. Jay Inslee ordered Washington state residents to “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” during the coronavirus pandemic is to help educate residents.
The governor issued the order in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state during a televised speech Monday, March 23.
“We are not being asked to detain, arrest, ticket or establish checkpoints for compliance,” Ferndale police said in a Facebook post Tuesday morning, March 24. “Rumors of strict law enforcement or ‘martial law’ are not true.”
Instead, the department said, officers will be instructed to educate residents on how they can keep themselves, their families and the rest of the community safe — particularly vulnerable people within the community.
“We know that Ferndale understands the severity of the situation and everyone is doing all they can already to keep themselves, their families and neighbors safe and healthy,” the post read.
When Ferndale officers encounter people who are not complying with the governor’s order, the post said they will remind them of the recommendations and restrictions when appropriate.
“No law enforcement agencies have any desire to make any arrests or take anybody to jail for violations of the stay at home order,” the post read. “Rumors of individuals or businesses needing ‘passes’ or ‘licenses’ to conduct essential services are not true.”
The governor’s order, which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, March 26, and will last two weeks, still allows employees in “essential” roles to go to the office and others to get out of the house for “essential” trips, such as going to the grocery store, pharmacy, medical appointments and outdoor exercise.
Those who do leave the house are reminded to practice good social distancing at all times, though.
Before the governor’s order, Whatcom Unified Command said that all Whatcom County law enforcement agencies would be acting in an educational role to teach the importance of social distancing when they encountered groups of people.
“The primary role of law enforcement is to help educate people about how to comply with the order,” according to a Whatcom County release on Wednesday, March 25. “Police will continue to respond with consideration and compassion, with an emphasis on education.”
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 12:18 PM.
