Coronavirus Florida: Law enforcement inundated with calls about 'social distancing'

Bar fights? Not happening; all the bars are closed.

Vehicle crashes? Way down, as most people are staying at home.

And it's a good thing, too, because as our coronavirus crisis grinds on, local law enforcement agencies have all sorts of new duties.

Tasked with enforcing Gov. Ron DeSantis' "safer-at-home" order, plus such local restrictions as park and boat ramp closures, local law enforcement also is being inundated with complaints that might seem impossibly minor — if we weren't in the midst of a global pandemic.

There are hundreds calls from residents complaining about a neighbor having a barbecue with more than 10 people, about kids congregating on playgrounds or restaurants that appear to be open when they're supposed to be closed.

If COVID-19 has turned us into a nation of tattletales — cops are playing the role of mommy and daddy.

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"Ninety-nine percent of our public is trying to do the right thing," said St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara. "And they get very discouraged and somewhat upset when they see the other 1 percent heading in the other direction.

"Then they call us."

In Martin County, Sheriff William Snyder said his office began tracking COVID-19 related calls on April 2. Less than two weeks later, they've logged 459 calls.

"Someone will call and say, this restaurant is supposed to only have takeout but (customers) are sitting out on the patio," said Snyder. "We'll go by and find out they're not really eating, just waiting for an order."

There are lots of calls from people reporting parties, gatherings of more than 10 people. Some callers complain about a supposed lack of social distancing on local golf courses.

"There are a lot of people who are nervous, anxious and want this to be over," said Snyder. "When they see someone they think is disobeying (social distancing rules), they just don't think it's fair."

Dutifully, local law enforcement dispatches deputies or officers to check out the complaints. But the focus is more on education than enforcement; parties and other large gatherings are broken up, but "it's impossible for us to arrest our way out of this," said Mascara.

His deputies have been told to "strongly encourage compliance." But when reason fails, "we give notice to appear (in court) to people who just don't listen," said Mascara.

"One of our biggest concerns is funerals," he said. "Some funerals will still pack 100 people into the funeral home. Then at the gravesite, there will be 100 people standing in close proximity."

DeSantis' "safer-at-home" order specifically exempts church services, and Mascara said that raises "a lot of questions about what we can and can't do" when it comes to funerals.

So once again, "we try to educate ... you might be at a funeral today, but 14 days from now, 30 people from that funeral" could come down with the virus, Mascara said.

Law enforcement chiefs throughout the Treasure Coast region say their officers/deputies have been given masks, gloves, hand sanitizers — and orders to reduce contact, where possible.

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That means not every call results in law enforcement stopping by.

"We used to send a deputy to every crime call, whether it was vandalism, or something lost or stolen," said Snyder.

Now those calls are handled by phone to prevent deputies from having to interact with citizens unless absolutely necessary.

"I can replace my cars, I can replace my gear — but I can't replace my deputies," said Snyder.

There remains concerns about loading local law enforcement with more and more responsibilities as more and more things are shut down.

Over the weekend, after Martin County commissioners restricted play at public-private golf courses to Martin County residents only, Snyder's deputies conducted spot checks at those courses to make sure they were complying.

(For the record: "We did find some Palm Beach County tags on Saturday," said Snyder. "But on Sunday, there was no trouble. Then again, it was Easter.")

But think about that; is that a wise use of resources, having deputies check on whether golf courses are observing social distancing?

But if they aren't, it's a problem, for everyone. So someone's got to break up the gathering of 11 people, someone has to swing by the restaurant to make sure those people sitting at the outdoor tables are only waiting for an order.

Someone has to respond to those who — out of necessity, I guess— narc on their neighbors.

And the only people available for that job are the guys with the guns.