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In Wilmington, authorities formed a new police unit to help enforce Gov. Roy Cooper's stay-at-home order.
The officers can issue citations for alleged violations to the order, but the Wilmington Police Department said the unit will be focused on educating businesses and individuals about the rules, WWAY reported on March 31.
“Right now, our job is going to be to try to take the pressure off of some of our patrol units so they can respond to whatever other calls they need to that may come in,” Wilmington Police Cpl. Ron Evans told WWAY.
The specialty-unit has four officers and one supervisor, WWAY reported. The unit will follow up on non-compliance issues related to the order, including at food establishments or public places.
“If someone is not in compliance, we’re going to tell them what we need to do to get into compliance,” Evans told WWAY. “And if they’re reluctant to do so, then, yes, we will take some type of law enforcement action to make sure it’s dealt with accordingly, but again, that’s not the first thing we would like to do.”
Residents of North Carolina can call the unit at 910-452-6120 for concerns about business violating orders issued by the governor.
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