Expand / Collapse search
☰

Atlanta's police chief says persuasion, not detention when enforcing social distancing

By
Published  May 22, 2020 6:18pm EDT
Coronavirus in Georgia
FOX 5 Atlanta

Atlanta Police Chief says officers will not enforce social distancing

Chief Erika Shields says social distancing is not a law enforcement issue

ATLANTA - The Atlanta police chief says social distancing is not a law enforcement issue. 

Chief Erika Shield made the comment in response to a question from the Atlanta City Council about how police might monitor Memorial Day Weekend activities and crowds.

"Honestly, encouraging people to practice social distancing and good hygiene and all the other things around it, is not a law enforcement function, it's just not," said Erika Shields. "And we are not going to get in the space of arresting people for sitting in a group on a patio."

App users click here for live updates

Know how the COVID-19 outbreak is impacting Georgia

The chief said the governor's blueprint for how people should behave amid the concerns over the coronavirus is "by and large not enforceable".

Officers will go out, she said, if called about a large gathering but will try to use persuasion, not detention.

RELATED: CoronavirusNOW.com, FOX launches national hub for COVID-19 news and updates.

Live map: Tracking coronavirus in Georgia

-----