Sheriff Urges Following Of Stay-At-Home Order: "Comply, Don't Deny"

One Florida top cop is talking tough about enforcing the state's Stay-at-Home order.

"We're going to warn you the first time and then if you don't comply, you could be subject to arrest. It's just that simple."

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw says staying inside except for essential activities is just a matter of inconvenience, not hardship.

"Everybody's got to take a deep breath here and say listen, this could be a lot worse. During a hurricane, you don't have electricity, you don't have any water and you don't have any gas in your car cause there's lines all over the place. We're not even remotely there."

Bradshaw says residents have to put it into perspective.

"I understand some people are out of work, but you know the jobs will come back, the businesses will reopen. We've got to figure out how to keep this from spreading and the only way to do it is don't go out if you don't need to be out."

The bottom line, he says is that residents have to take this seriously and give up the good times for the next month.

"We just don't want to spread it to everybody else so we don't end up like they are in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut (or) Louisiana. If they hadn't had Mardi Gras, they might not have had the problems they're doing now, but they figured that was more important than trying to take care of everybody."

Palm Beach County, like the rest of Southeast Florida, had already been under a stay home order before the governor extended it statewide. And Bradshaw says a majority of residents and businesses have been complying.

"For the most part, everybody's been good. We've just had a couple of glitches here and there. Fortunately for them, they've complied. You know what my phrase is here? Comply, don't deny."

He uses that mantra in a new PSA put together Thursday, thanking those who've been abiding by the executive order and telling folks who aren't to do so or potentially face 60 days in jail on a second-degree misdemeanor.

The sheriff hopes it doesn't come to that and deputies will issue one warning before acting.

Photo: Getty Images


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