Gig Harbor Police Ask Community To Follow Mask Mandate

GIG HARBOR, WA — Gig Harbor police are asking the public to follow Gov. Inslee's mask mandate for the safety of their community.

Inslee announced a new statewide mandate, which will go into effect Friday, which requires residents across Washington to wear masks or facial coverings while in public spaces. That means in stores, at work, on buses or in any public setting where it is not possible to keep six feet apart from one another.

In response to the mandate, Gig Harbor Police posted an open letter Tuesday. The letter urges the public to wear masks and consider the health and safety of their fellow community members:

"We are asking for voluntary compliance in following this guidance... ...Our community relies, in part, on individual personal responsibility to minimize the potential spread of any communicable disease."

The governor's mandate means that anyone who refuses to wear a mask could face a potential misdemeanor, and Gig Harbor police say, they will follow through on that if it becomes necessary.

"The Gig Harbor Police Department will respond to cases of willful and reckless disregard for public safety. Education will be our first approach, with enforcement as a final measure."

Their letter mirrors comments made by Inslee Tuesday, who said he believed that the mandate announcement would be enough to encourage better mask use, without the need for strict enforcement.

"It is a misdemeanor not to comply with this order, but it is not our desire to have hard-working officers following people around on mask issues," said Inslee. "They have other things to deal with frankly, and we hope that people's common sense and recognition of the law and desire to help their fellow neighbors are going to carry the day here."

More information on Inslee's announcement and how the mandate works can be found by following this link.

Read the full post by Gig Harbor Police below: