Gov. Wolf delays shutdown order; authorities unclear about enforcement

Western Pennsylvania authorities are seeking clarification on how they are supposed to enforce a mandate from Gov. Tom Wolf ordering myriad businesses across the state to shut down.

The order affects all businesses deemed non-life-sustaining, and enforcement begins Monday at 8 a.m.

It was supposed to start at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, but the state late Friday announced enforcement was being delayed until Monday.

On Sunday, Wolf had pushed bars and restaurants to cease dine-in operations and urged nonessential businesses to close. That push became a mandate Thursday.

Wolf said the orders will be enforced by the Liquor Control Board, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, the state police and local law enforcement.

Local police chiefs, however, said they were caught off guard by the order.

“Like many people, we saw it on the news last night,” said Pittsburgh police Chief Scott Schubert. “It would have been nice to have more communication with law enforcement on expecting us to do something to ensure that we have the powers to do it.”

Allegheny County Police Superintendent Coleman McDonough said his department hasn’t received any requests from the governor’s office.

“(We) have not been requested to assist with the investigation of any business that is not complying with the governor’s closure order, nor have we been requested to participate in any related enforcement,” he said.

Business owners who don’t comply could face criminal charges, Wolf said, though it was not immediately clear what statutes would apply. The Department of Health will also be able to prosecute rogue businesses that don’t comply with health laws.

Beyond that, businesses that defy the order will “forfeit their ability to receive any applicable disaster relief,” according to the governor’s office.

When asked about enforcement during a Friday afternoon news conference, Wolf seemed to waffle.

“They should take measures that … use their local resources,” he said. “In the meantime, we will use the state police to enforce the rules that we have put into place.”

Tarentum Police Chief William Vakulick said he was unsure whether his department was expected to independently investigation noncompliant businesses.

Mike Manko, a spokesman for the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, said he had asked similar questions of state officials, and the office had yet to receive any sort of guidance. He pointed out that civil litigation is also an option.

Westmoreland County commissioners and the county Public Safety Director indicated the county had received little guidance. In New Kensington, Chief Bob Deringer expressed similar confusion.

“I have received absolutely no information on enforcement of business closures,” he said, noting that he has “no idea” whether the department is expected to investigate. “No one has contacted me about it all.”