The Normal Police department is approaching the Sangamon County court ruling the same way they have most of the COVID restrictions.
“I have not read it [the judge’s ruling]. I have not received it. I don’t even think we’ve gotten all the information on what the rulings and what the specifics were. Our thought is people are trying to do the best they can. There’s people who are trying to follow the rules. What are the rules, those are changing pretty regularly. What we would do would be similar to what we did when quarantine issues came up,” said Police Chief Rick Bleichner. “If it involves the school, the school district. The police department, the state’s attorney work through these things. We talk about these things. We kind of come up with what’s the best course of action in that.”
Bleichner said he thinks it’s just prudent at this point, to look at it on a case by case basis.
“That way we can compare everything and make an informed decision,” said Bleichner. “I understand the frustration, I certainly do. Again we will look at that and well make a more informed decision on that and we will have an answer moving forward.”
During a Liquor Commission hearing at Normal City Hall, Normal Police officers testified that while responding to complaints on Nov. 6, Nov. 13, and Dec. 11 of 2020 indoor customers were caught eating and drinking at the restaurants tables. Those complaints were documented in a police report, after that the officers presented that evidence at the Liquor Commission hearing in Jan. 2021.
The Normal police confirmed one police report titled “other public complaint” is filed with the NPD right now. “Other public complaint” is used when it is not clear what offense may have occurred. Whether that complaint becomes a report is up to the filer, the officer assessment and other factors.
A complaint is a request for a police service of some kind while a police report is a materialization of facts pertinent to some incident or occurrence. When after completion of investigation Police submits a report in final form it is Police report or Charge sheet.
Is the judge’s ruling something that is court enforceable? Or is it something that is police enforced?
“My understanding is its in the process of being appealed. So is it actually law at this time? Those are all things that I think we would need to dive into a little bit more. Before we are going to take somebody’s freedoms or responsibilities away and make an arrest,” said Bleichner. “We want to try and understand this and make an educated decision. With this coming out we’re trying to play catch up just like a lot of other people are.”
Bleichner couldn’t get into the specifics on the report filed.
“I can certainly say that there was a report filed with an allegation or concern about masks being required at Unit 5. That’s something we are looking at,” said Bleichner. “We have to take a look at it and we would do that in consultation with the school district, with the state’s attorney. To try and make the most informed decision that can be made there. I understand people are frustrated, on whatever side of the issue you are on. We’ve been going through a pandemic for a long time. The rules seem to be there and at times changing. We just want to try and work through that as responsibility as we can,” said Bleichner.
Even if it is a violation to mask kids despite the ruling, who’s responsible for that violation?
“My understanding of what I’ve heard, again I haven’t read the ruling… I haven’t been issued that, but that would be something that would be a legal matter for the attorneys to look at…my understanding is that it is a misdemeanor, even if in fact it was valid,” said Bleichner. “In a lot of instances we are diverting those [misdemeanors] out of the jail, because of COVID mitigation factors. So it’s not like even if there was a clear violation somebody was going to go to jail right now.”
