State police say they will continue to enforce closures through education

With multiple counties, including Beaver, vowing to rebel against Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order — some with the backing of local district attorneys — state police maintained Wednesday that “a county doesn’t have the authority to supersede a governor’s order.”

However, state police Lt. Col. Scott Price, deputy commissioner, said the agency plans to continue “to avoid a reactive posture to non-compliance” by discussing the laws and issuing warnings for unlawful activities, including premature business openings.

But, if troopers on patrol observe multiple violations in one setting, such as a large gathering of people with underage drinking or violence erupting, they will step in and possibly issue citations. Repeat violators also can expect to be cited, he said.

“Education will remain our first resort,” Price said in a press briefing with 50 media representatives across the state Wednesday. However, he said troopers could still issue citations in certain situations.

Price said he feels the vocal objection by many areas to continued stay-at-home orders is not unexpected.

“They are engaging in public discourse… that’s part of democracy and we understand it sometimes gets contentious. We want to maintain the peace, rather than escalate the contentiousness,” Price said.

The law enforcement agency’s efforts statewide since March 23 on business closing enforcement reflect its “education first” policy with only 329 warnings and just one citation issued to date. Statewide stay-at-home enforcement actions also have been few and far between.

Since March 23, troopers issued just 34 warnings for violation of Wolf’s stay-at-home order statewide and issued just seven citations. Two of those citations, issued last month against Kara Lee Lawson, 27, of Bell, and Scott James Renwick, 28, of Loyalhanna, were withdrawn May 1.

“We’re really enjoying a great deal of cooperation from the public and our community partners through this. But we’re focusing on the education and encouragement aspects … and making the best decisions to keep the public and our troopers safe,” Price said.

With many counties, including all but Beaver in southwestern Pennsylvania, entering the yellow phase toward reopening, Price said he anticipates increases in traffic and people being out will increase the potential for more criminal activity.

“When we feel enforcement action needs to be taken, we certainly will do so,” Price said.

State police spokesman Ryan Tarkowski also disclosed that 11 state troopers statewide tested positive for covid-19, but all recuperated and returned to work. Ninety-three troopers tested negative, he said.