I realize these are some uncertain times we are living in, especially since Gov. Brad Little’s “stay at home” order Wednesday has shut down most business — and gatherings of groups of people outside their home — for at least the next three weeks as we all work together to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Ada County and the rest of Idaho.
That is why I am asking for your help. Our staff has been getting a lot of inquiries on what the “stay at home” order means for their jobs, their families, and everything else.
The governor’s office has set up some helpful FAQs at the State of Idaho COVID-19 page page, including specific ones defining what the essential services and business are, some additional guidance on churches, golf, and other areas of interest and a page to provide some clarity about what “stay at home” means.
We are not the experts on those questions — but the ACSO and the rest of Ada County’s law enforcement agencies are getting a lot of questions about what we will do about people not following the order.
The short answer is we will educate and interact with our community if there is confusion — and work with them to figure out a way for them to comply with the order. We are going to appeal to our citizens’ best nature and sense of community.
We don’t expect to have to issue tickets or make any arrests because I have confidence the residents of Ada County will do what we can to protect each other in these trying times.
We have no plans to pull people over or stop them on the street merely to ask if what they are doing is essential. We are going to rely on your good judgment for that.
I also have the utmost confidence in our deputies and the relationships they have built in the communities they patrol. Those strong community bonds should help us resolve any issue disputes in a timely manner.
We will cite or charge if we absolutely have to – if people continually and willfully violate the Governor’s order after we have spoken with them. As I said, I am confident that won’t happen.
A good thing about the order is that it is self-explanatory. Stay at home means stay at home unless it is vital for you to leave. Each time anyone ventures out of their homes, they increase the odds of being exposed to COVID-19.
The math is pretty simple. The less exposure citizens have to each other for the next three weeks, the greater the chance of us slowing down the spread of COVID-19 and easing the potentially devastating stresses on our medical system, which would also mean incredible stress on our local law enforcement, paramedics, and fire departments — the life-saving first responders we need to keep our community safe.
That is why we all have to work together.
So please don’t gather in groups of 10 or more, or make unneeded trips out into the community for the next three weeks. We are asking you to stay home with your families and look after each other.
We are asking employers to follow the governor’s list of what compromises an “essential” business and to not put their employees in a situation where they are violating the order.
The good news is that many of us have been practicing this discipline over the last few weeks anyway. So let’s all keep doing what we are doing, and get through this together.
One thing I do want to emphasize, however, is that our deputies will not turn their backs to crime. We will never do that.
To be crystal clear — if someone commits a crime and represents a danger to the community, our deputies will make an arrest without hesitation. We will not compromise your safety. Ever.
Be sure to check back here for important updates from our agency, and visit the State of Idaho COVID-19 page for the latest state-wide info.
I am confident if we continue to work together, our community will emerge from of all this stronger than ever.
— Sheriff Steve Bartlett