Sentinel staff report–
Following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision on Thursday to issue a statewide face mask mandate to slow the spread of COVID-19, Citrus Heights Police Chief Ron Lawrence issued a statement Friday afternoon announcing that his officers will not criminally enforce the governor’s order.
“The Citrus Heights Police Department will not be criminally enforcing the Governor’s Health Order requiring the use of face coverings or masks,” Lawrence said in a news release Friday afternoon.
The news release cited limited resources being available to police, causing officers to prioritize emergency response.
“Because of the potential for negative interaction during enforcement encounters, the nature of any violation of the health order being only minor, and the multiple ways in which the order could be violated, it would be unreasonable and inappropriate for the Citrus Heights Police to criminally enforce the Governor’s mandate,” the release said.
Lawrence said officers will continue to educate residents and seek voluntary compliance with health orders, saying education has served as “an effective means to slow the spread of the pandemic in our region.”
Local police are encouraging social distancing, regular washing of hands, sanitizing of common shared areas, and wearing of face masks or coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19. Employees of the police department are also following state mask guidelines “when reasonable and safe to do so,” the department said in Friday’s news release.
The statement from Citrus Heights police echoes a similar statement issued by Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones, who said the face mask mandate will not be criminally enforced by sheriff’s deputies.
The governor’s mask mandate, issued through the California Department of Public Health, requires face coverings to be used in the following situations:
- Inside of, or in line to enter, any indoor public space;
- Obtaining services from the healthcare sector in settings including, but not limited to, a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or dental office, veterinary clinic, or blood bank;
- Waiting for or riding on public transportation or paratransit or while in a taxi, private car service, or ride-sharing vehicle;
- Engaged in work, whether at the workplace or performing work off-site, when:
- Interacting in-person with any member of the public;
- Working in any space visited by members of the public, regardless of whether anyone from the public is present at the time;
- Working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to others;
- Working in or walking through common areas, such as hallways, stairways, elevators, and parking facilities;
- In any room or enclosed area where other people (except for members of the person’s own household or residence) are present when unable to physically distance.
- Driving or operating any public transportation or paratransit vehicle, taxi, or private car service or ride-sharing vehicle when passengers are present. When no passengers are present, face coverings are strongly recommended.
- While outdoors in public spaces when maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet from persons who are not members of the same household or residence is not feasible.
Exceptions are listed for children age two and under, along with those with medical conditions and other criteria. A full list of exemptions and additional information is available at cdph.ca.gov.
