Police agencies not issuing citations over mask law — maintaining an education role
Kennewick and Richland police and the Washington State Patrol are joining other law enforcement agencies statewide in announcing they won’t be handing out citations for people not wearing masks.
“The Kennewick Police Department will continue to communicate with and encourage all Kennewick residents and visitors to make safety-focused decisions and follow all health-based directors from the governor, as well as state and local health officials,” police officials said in a statement Thursday.
The statement was in response to an order this week from Gov. Jay Inslee requiring people to wear masks in public, starting Friday.
Pasco police had not posted a statement on the issue.
Kennewick and Richland police officials said they see themselves as educators partnering with the community on how to protect themselves and their loved ones. But when officers see someone who isn’t wearing a mask they will educate them about the requirements, they said.
“Nobody wants to do any type of enforcement,” Lt. Aaron Clem told the Herald. “We hope that we don’t have to. We hope that people make the right decisions for the safety of the community.”
The state patrol wrote in a news release that the governor’s order is not a mandate to law enforcement to detain, cite or arrest violators, but it is an “evidence-based and safety-focused directive meant to slow the spread of a potentially deadly disease.”
The mask policy follows a growing number of coronavirus infections in some counties as the economy started to open again under the state’s Safe Start plan.
“As necessary economic activity increases and more people are out in their communities, it is imperative that we adopt further measures to protect all of us,” Inslee said Tuesday. “Until a vaccine or cure is developed, this is going to be one of our best defenses.”
The infection rate in Benton and Franklin counties has continued its upward trend as the weather has warmed up and people are ignoring the warnings, said public health officials.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School and a team of universities released a study in April saying the use of face masks could lead to elimination of the pandemic if 80 percent of people used them.
People willfully violating the order can face a misdemeanor, the governor said, but Kennewick officers are hoping to educate people instead.
Kennewick police are working with the city attorney and Benton County Prosecutor’s Office for more direction on the mandate.
“Our agency does not have any directive to use citations or make any arrests,” Richland police posted. “It is our desire to work with our community to ensure we create a safe environment for all.”
Business owners can require everyone who comes into their store to wear a mask. Some national companies, including Costco, already have started requiring masks.
Benton County has seen about 180 new cases per 100,000 people in the past two weeks, and Franklin had about 430 cases per 100,000 people in the same period, according to the Benton Franklin Health District.
Local hospitals have treated as many as 89 patients a day this week for COVID-19 — an increase from 35 patients a month ago.
With the numbers trending upwards this month, police believe coronavirus is a real threat to people’s safety, Clem said.
On top of that, the economy in the two counties aren’t going to be able to move to Phase 2 unless they find a way to reduce the number of people affected.
“We trust our residents, businesses, elected leaders, health officials and each other to do what is necessary during this unique time of shared medical vulnerability and gradual return to social and economic normalcy,” the state patrol said.