Thurston County Sheriff’s Office will not criminally enforce state’s mask mandate
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office announced it won’t cite people for not wearing face coverings, which under a state order will be mandatory starting Friday in public spaces statewide in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The office, led by elected Sheriff John Snaza, is among several in the state that have voiced unwillingness to enforce the order signed by State Secretary of Health John Wiesman Wednesday.
The order requires Washingtonians to wear face coverings while inside or in line to enter indoor public spaces, seeking health care services, waiting for or riding public transportation, and while they are outdoors and unable to stay 6 feet away from people not in their household.
Exceptions include children under age 5 and anyone with a medical condition, mental health condition or disability that prevents them from wearing one.
Under the order, violators could face a fine up to $100 or up to 90 days in jail.
In a statement posted on social media Wednesday, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office says it recommends everyone exercise “safe and precautionary measures,” including “wearing masks around those in high-risk groups,” but that it won’t be criminally enforcing the order.
“Due to the minor nature of this offense, and the possibility for a negative outcome during an enforcement encounter and various ways in which the order may be violated, it would be inappropriate for deputies to criminally enforce this mandate,” the statement reads.
The office issued the statement because it received an influx of calls from citizens concerned about the order, Sheriff’s Lt. Ray Brady said — people asking questions such as whether they could get pulled over for not wearing a mask in their car and whether they could still carry concealed firearms. As long as a person has a current Concealed Pistol License, they can lawfully carry their firearm, Brady said.
“We are not in any way telling people not to wear masks or recommending that they don’t wear masks,” Lt. Ray Brady told The Olympian Thursday. “We still feel that people need to listen to the experts and do what they need to do to be safe, but we just wanted to kind of clarify” local enforcement of the order.
Rather than criminally enforcing the requirement, deputies will continue to engage with people “when appropriate” and educate them alongside public health staff, according to the statement.
Brady said that the Sheriff’s Office’s not enforcing the order does not mean people can ignore requirements set by businesses.
There’s been a local masking directive in place in Thurston County since May 28. Acting Thurston County Health Officer Dr. Diana Yu’s directive included that law enforcement would not enforce the local requirement, which it said should be used to “educate, encourage, and persuade” people.
Why some deputies aren’t wearing masks
The Sheriff’s Office statement also explains internal masking policies at the Sheriff’s Office.
The office is not requiring deputies to wear masks, the statement says, because putting them on during an emergency response might delay them in assisting or might “jeopardize their own safety.” Individual deputies will make case-by-case decisions.
Deputies have masks and are encouraged to maintain social distancing, Lt. Brady said. The same rule applies to corrections officers: They all have masks, and they will wear them as needed but aren’t required to wear them at all times. When maintaining distance is impossible, such as in public buildings, Sheriff’s Office staff have been directed to wear masks, Brady said.
“We have received complaints and concerns about deputies not wearing their masks, but we want the public to know we do review each of them along with encouraging them to wear one,” the statement reads, calling it “a judgment call” whether mask-wearing could compromise safety or make a situation safer.
Hazard pay for deputies
Thurston County patrol deputies, corrections deputies and technicians in the adult jail and juvenile detention facility, court security officers, and some staff in the county Coroner’s Office have been receiving a “hazard pay” increase of 5% since March 25 because they are potentially at higher risk of being exposed to COVID-19.
The county plans to claim reimbursement for the temporary boost — which cost the county $111,737 from March 25 through May 15, according to Assistant County Manager Robin Campbell — from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund.
That decision has been made and affirmed periodically by consistent 2-1 county commission votes — voting yes each time have been Commissioners Gary Edwards and John Hutchings, who both come from law enforcement backgrounds, while Commissioner Tye Menser has consistently voted against the pay increase.
At a June 2 meeting, Commissioner Edwards suggested the board extend the pay increase through Sept. 1, saying the commission should reassure officers the board has their backs.
“We’re not going to be out of this mess — we’ve got stupidity going on all around the country, I don’t see it coming to a solution right away,” Edwards said. “And this COVID virus, this communist virus, if you will, is going to continue for a long period of time, it looks like.”
The discussion included that recent protests would put law enforcement officers at more risk for exposure.
Hutchings advocated for continuing to make it a month-to-month decision. After Menser refused to weigh in on the extension, saying it’s “not good policy,” the timeline was open-ended for a week before the commissioners agreed to still extend the increase one month at a time to avoid setting a precedent.
Thurston not alone in not enforcing order
Thurston County is among several counties issuing similar statements, such as Grant and Mason counties.
In Lewis County on Tuesday, Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza’s brother, Sheriff Robert Snaza, seemed to encourage people to defy the order when he told a crowd “Don’t be a sheep.” The comments were caught on camera by a photographer for The Daily Chronicle.
“In case you guys didn’t hear, Governor Inslee in his infinite wisdom has decided after over 100-some-odd days that we should all wear face masks, inside and out,” Snaza said. “Here’s what I say: Don’t be a sheep.”
In an interview with Northwest News Network, Snaza later said his “Don’t be a sheep” comment “does not mean that I’m outwardly saying I want you to violate the orders.”
And on Wednesday, Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer also blasted Inslee’s order in an interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting. Songer called the governor an “idiot” and said he’s “overstepping his bounds, violating people’s constitutional rights.”
On Wednesday, during a news conference, Inslee responded to Snaza’s comments.
“I think we have to be disappointed in any law enforcement officer who would encourage illegal behavior,” Inslee said, adding that mask wearing “is about demonstrating our respect and care for the other people around us.”
Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 1:22 PM.
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