The City of Normandy Park, along with Police Chief Dan Yourkoski, released the following updates about the COVID-19 coronavirus on Tuesday, Mar. 24, 2020:

Governor Jay Inslee has Ordered Citizens of Washington State to stay home for a minimum of two weeks

On March 23, 2020, Governor Inslee issued Proclamation directing all residents immediately to heed current State public health directives to stay home, except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of essential critical infrastructure sectors and additional sectors as the State Public Health Officer may designate as critical to protecting health and well-being of all Washingtonians. In accordance with this Proclamation, the Governor has designated the following list of “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers” to help state, local, tribal, and industry partners as they work to protect communities while ensuring continuity of functions critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security

To view the full Proclamation, click here.

To view the list of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers, click here.

Update from Police Chief Dan Yourkoski
Normandy Park Community

Your police department is working hard to ensure public safety during this challenging time. We want to emphasize education over enforcement during this “stay at home” order by the Governor. We are taking guidance from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and from our regional law enforcement partners.

Law enforcement’s primary role is to help educate people about how to comply with orders to stay at home. We are not being asked to detain, arrest, ticket or establish checkpoints for compliance.

We view our role as law enforcement officials during this period as education. Educating residents on how to keep themselves safe, how to keep their families safe and most importantly, to keep the rest of the community safe, especially our vulnerable populations.

We understand some people need to carry out essential services such as:

    1. Safety and security
    2. Food, water, shelter
    3. Health and medical
    4. Energy (power and fuel)
    5. Communications
    6. Transportation

Our community has shown they understand the severity of the situation and we are all doing what we can to keep ourselves, families, and neighbors – safe and healthy.

When officers encounter people not complying with an order, we will remind them, as appropriate, of the recommendation and restrictions. No law enforcement agencies have any desire to make any arrests or take anybody to jail for violations. Rumors of individuals or businesses needing “passes” or “licenses” to conduct essential services are not true.

Rest assured we will continue to serve you every minute of every day and we will always enforce the laws that keep people safe.

Do your part and Stay Home, Save Lives.

Thanks,
Dan Yourkoski
Normandy Park Chief of Police