Police in the Quad Cities have been responding to calls about residents violating stay-at-home and social distancing orders.
The East Moline and Davenport Police Departments say they get a few complaints about it per day.
“If we get a call about someone not abiding by social distancing we’ll most likely respond, remind them of the social distancing order by the governor and try to get them to disperse,” East Moline Police Captain Brian Foltz told TV6. “Most people are complying with our requests.”
East Moline and Davenport police told TV6 they have not made any arrests yet when it comes to social distancing violations. Foltz says they're just trying to get compliance. “We’re not out there trying to make arrests. There were a couple situations where it was a bit more tense but eventually they did comply.”
The East Moline Police Department says they recently received a call from a resident complaining about their neighbor holding a large gathering. Foltz says officers responded and said it was a vigil with up to 100 people in close proximity of one another. “We understand that they want to have their vigil and all that but the governor has made an order not to have large groups like that."
The residents ended up complying with the officers order to disperse. Foltz said most residents end up complying after officers talk to them.
Foltz says however, when it comes to businesses, police might handle the situation differently. “If businesses are operating when they are not supposed to be we can do a report on that. Depending on the business we can probably check their license, possibly suspend their license or just try to get compliance.”
For now, as long as residents respect social distancing and stay-at-home orders there will be no problems. “At this time the chief has not given an order and the mayor has not given an order to make arrests,” Foltz said. “If we do get that order we’ll most likely start making arrests. It could be a misdemeanor arrest. It could be a city ordinance arrest.”
Captain Foltz said if officers do end up making arrests, people might have to pay fines but will most likely be released since jails are trying to limit exposure to their inmates and workers.