Murphy – Mask wearing isn’t as enforceable as the state would like it to be, at least in Cherokee County.
Just before Thanksgiving, Gov. Roy Cooper announced he was strengthening mask requirements, adding that law enforcement may enforce the requirement in his newest executive order. However, local law enforcement officials said it’s not practical here.
“While we would never disregard Gov. Cooper’s order, we have enough calls for service to respond to in terms of public safety that makes up our regular patrol duties,” Murphy Police Chief Justin Jacobs said. “The order states, ‘Law enforcement officers may cite …’ Hence the term ‘may.’ It does not specify ‘must.’ While there are only a few general statutes stating ‘you must arrest,’ this is not one of them.”
Sheriff Derrick Palmer agreed.
“We only have 30 sworn officers,” Palmer said. “Last year, our deputies responded to approximately 50,000 calls for service, and to expect them to add additional duties to enforce the governor’s order on 28,000 individual citizens, hundreds of businesses and thousands of visitors to our county is not feasible.”
Previously, enforcement was the responsibility of businesses, though law enforcement could enforce trespassing laws on anyone refusing to leave a business. Businesses are still responsible for enforcement, and businesses more than 15,000 square feet in size are required to have an employee at the entrance making sure guests are following mask requirements and limiting occupancy.
The governor’s order also requires masks indoors in any setting with people of differing households, even when 6 feet of distance can be maintained. It also requires that anyone who is not a collegiate or professional athlete must wear a face covering when exercising outdoors within 6 feet of others or in a facility other than their home.
Both Jacobs and Palmer said officers have and will continue to handle all complaints regarding face masks on a case-by-case basis. Jacobs said complaints the police department has received about people not wearing masks were from people visiting Murphy.
Health Director David Badger said he understands that mask wearing is hard to enforce.
“It’s good to know that if legitimate issues arise, law enforcement will step in,” he said.
Badger thinks wearing a mask is something individuals shouldn’t have to rely on law enforcement to handle. He believes people should be encouraging others, not shaming. The community’s personality is a helpful one, and he compared wearing a mask to placing sandbags for hurricane preparation.
“Wearing a mask in and of itself is about protecting others around you,” Badger said.
He has only really been in public at the grocery store, where he has noticed good adherence to mask wearing. He was happy to see Ingles handing out masks to customers when he visited the store over the weekend.
Palmer encouraged businesses to report any issues they have with non-compliance and encouraged individuals to be responsible.
“We should all be aware of our surroundings and eager to wear masks in public for the protection of those we come in contact with,” he said.
The state’s new executive order went into effect Nov. 25 and runs through at least Dec. 11.