Sonoma Co. sheriff: ‘I can no longer in good conscience’ enforce stay-at-home order

By Amy Graff, SFGATE

Updated

7:40 am PDT, Friday, May 29, 2020

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Sonoma County deputies will stop enforcing the more restrictive local stay-at-home order beginning Monday and instead focus on the rules and requirements of the statewide order.

Sonroma County Sheriff Mark Essick released a lengthy statement Thursday explaining his position.

“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,” Essick wrote. “Effective June 1, 2020 I am directing all Sheriff’s Office staff to discontinue the enforcement of the Sonoma County Public Health Orders issued by the Sonoma County Public Health Department and the Public Health Officer. Reports of violations, when brought to our attention, will be evaluated against the California State guidelines on a case-by-case basis.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is reopening California with a four-stage plan that’s implemented through a statewide stay-at-home order. Counties that meet certain benchmarks for infection rates can move more swiftly through the plan and make additional modifications to their orders with state approval  For example, the governor recently gave hair salons statewide permission to open in counties with regional variances.

Newsom has said counties don’t have to come into compliance with the state order and can keep their more strict guidelines. While Sonoma has proven it meets requirements for a regional variance, it is among the several Bay Area counties that have chosen to move at slower pace and has refrained from opening hair salons and barbershops.

Essick expressed it’s time for the county to catch up with the state.

“I have heard from many people expressing concern with the perceived overreach of the Sonoma County Public Health Orders and their inconsistencies with our neighboring counties and Governor Newsom’s Public Health orders,” Essick wrote. “I have consistently heard the message that Sonoma County’s Public Health Orders are far more restrictive than the Governor’s Order’s despite the fact that our COVID-19 infection rate is low compared to other counties. With over 23,000 tests conducted, Sonoma County has seen a declining rate of positive tests, from 3% three weeks ago to 2.2% today. As a community we have experienced 4 deaths; I do not want to minimize this fact as any loss of life is tragic and sad.”

In response, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors released a statement late Thursday expressing “disappointment” over the sheriff’s decision to not enforce the local order.

“While we acknowledge the community’s frustration with the situation and a desire to return to some normalcy, the Sheriff’s message has had the unfortunate effect of creating confusion in our community,” the statement read. “Over the past 10 weeks, the County has taken unprecedented measures to protect the health and well-being of every community member against COVID19. We know that all of our efforts have successfully minimized the spread of COVID19 and saved lives. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors stands behind the decisions of our Health Officer and thanks all members of our community who have and will continue to follow the health orders to keep our community safe.”

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Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: [email protected].