Live Radio
Updated Tuesday, 10:15 a.m.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office says it will enforce county health orders, reversing an earlier decision to stop enforcing the county shelter-in-place rules.
The change was announced in a joint press release Monday from Board of Supervisors Chair Susan Gorin and Sheriff Mark Essick. It says the county will “convene a Sonoma County Economic Recovery Taskforce focused on shifting our County from a broad, stay-at-home model that is based on essential/non-essential activity, to a risk-based model that weighs all available data.”
Essick had advocated for a “less restrictive, risk-based system” to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in a previous statement explaining his decision to stop enforcement of the health order.
County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase said Monday on a call with the media that the county has always used a risk-based approach and sees no difference.
Mase last week said an increase in local COVID-19 cases merited caution as the county moves through the phases of reopening at its own pace.
The joint release from Gorin and Essick indicates that the county and sheriff’s office have turned a new leaf, and will move forward together in unison.
“We look forward to working together to achieve transparent decision-making processes; data-driven directives; thoughtful enforcement; and collaborative, cross-sector leadership,” it reads.
Original story:
Beginning Monday, June 1, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department will not be enforcing the county’s COVID-19 health order.
Sheriff Mark Essick in a Facebook post last week attributed the decision to a lack of information and transparency from the county about why it has not moved to a “a less restrictive, risk based system” to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
“As your elected Sheriff, I can no longer in good conscience continue to enforce Sonoma County Public Health Orders, without explanation, that criminalize otherwise lawful business and personal behavior,” he wrote.
Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch said Essick’s decision is at odds with other local law enforcement agencies and adds to fear and confusion around the pandemic.
“Yes, it is difficult to enforce and at times may seem arbitrary,” she said. “That said, the Sheriff and I both know our role is not to make policy but to enforce the rules.”
Ravitch said the decision to file criminal charges lies ultimately with the District Attorney's Office.
Essick met with county officials on Friday, including Board of Supervisors Chair Susan Gorin, Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, Director of Public Health Barbie Robinson and Sonoma County Public Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase, to discuss enforcement of the health order.
Essick said in another Facebook post that while the discussion was “positive and productive in addressing the Sheriff’s concerns,” his decision to stop enforcement still stands.
He said the Sheriff’s Office will continue to educate the community and collaborate with the county.
