Bellingham police say their role is to educate during coronavirus ‘Stay Home’ order
A week after Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order was announced, the Bellingham Police Department said they have taken a more educational than enforcement role — teaching residents the importance of complying with social distance directions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inslee announced his order forbidding non-essential activities to slow the spread of COVID-19 on March 23, and it went into effect Thursday, March 26.
“Our role is to educate to gain voluntary compliance,” Chief David Doll said in a city of Bellingham release Tuesday, March 31. “We do not want to place you under arrest for violating the order.”
If officers see groups of people gathering and not practicing good social distancing, they will likely stop and ask the group to disperse, according to the release.
Doll said officers also won’t be stopping residents they see walking or driving around town, “as they may be involved in an allowed essential activity,” such as exercise.
Doll also thanked the residents and businesses already adhering to the governor’s order, saying, “this simple and powerful act will help slow the further spread of COVID-19. We all can play this important role — as individuals, families, and businesses — in our collective effort to keep our community healthy.”
The Ferndale Police Department previously announced that it also is taking an educational role following the governor’s order.
According to the governor’s order, certain businesses, deemed essential on the governor’s website, can stay open.
On Monday, the governor announced the launch of an online form to report potential non-essential businesses violating the order. Doll suggested residents report these violations on the form, rather than call 911, which is reserved for immediate emergencies services.
