Coast law enforcement is starting to ticket people who violate coronavirus orders
For the most part, South Mississippi law enforcement officials say residents are abiding by stay-at-home orders and are social distancing, adhering to curfews and refraining from gathering in groups of 10 of more.
But some residents are still not taking the threat of COVID-19 serious enough and cops in cities like Moss Point and elsewhere are mostly done with warnings and are issuing citations.
“Our main goal is to educate and inform,” said Moss Point Police Chief Brandon Ashley. “But when you have to keep warning the same people, it’s time to do something.”
Moss Point Mayor Mario King was among the first statewide to push for a curfew and to shut down non-essential businesses to prevent the spread of the virus. King has publicly criticized Gov. Tate Reeves more than once for failing to do more to protect the spread of the virus.
“Our mayor was the first to issue a shelter-in-place order and we started warning people, but at some point you have to take action,” Ashley said. People are still getting together in groups and spreading the virus.”
Since curfews took effect in Moss Point and other cities on the Coast, most agencies are dealing with a limited number of citizens who still think it’s OK to gather, most of whom are friends and family getting together for barbecues, crawfish boils and fish frys.
“We are just asking people to stay at home with the people they live with and don’t invite friends and other family over,” Ashley said. “We’ve seen that a lot.”
Medical professionals, including those at Singing River Health System, are saying most of those infected are getting the virus from other relatives who are asymptomatic but are carrying the virus.
In Moss Point, Ashley said police officers have issued over 10 citations to groups that had already been warned to refrain from large social gatherings.
In other areas, including Harrison County and Hancock County counties and surrounding municipalities, police say people are mostly being proactive to prevent exposure to the potentially fatal virus.
But there are still those who are getting ticketed and face fines of up to $300 and/or up to six months in jail for violating the standing orders.
Biloxi Police Chief John Miller said his officers have had to issue violations to those who refuse to follow orders to disperse because “we are not going to deal with any foolishness.”
“I’d say 80 to 90% of the residents are doing what they need to do,” Miller said. “But there’s always this small percentage who keeps it going. If they would just stay apart and stay at home a little while, this thing will pass over and we can go on with life.”
So far, authorities say, they have not seen any dramatic increase in domestic violence calls, though they expect that could change as families shelter in place together for longer periods of time.
In addition, authorities have seen a reduction in property crimes.
But the other problems still linger in a some crowds.
“Some people just apparently think it’s not going to affect their family when it actually will,” Ashley said. “Until someone in some of these families get sick and possibly dies, some people are just not going to realize how serious this virus is. You know, this is about protecting people.”
More and more first responders, including police and firefighters, are wearing protective gear, mostly masks and gloves to prevent their exposure.
But some agencies are already feeling the effects of the virus firsthand.
In Biloxi, four firefighters are battling coronavirus and two more are sick and quarantined at home while they wait for their test results to see if they, too, have contracted the virus.
As the Easter weekend approaches, authorities are reminding resident that the same regulations remain in place and authorities will be out in force to enforce the rules.
