Leaders affirm: Law enforcement officers should be wearing masks when interacting with the public
On Sunday, Raleigh police were caught on camera not wearing masks in southeast Raleigh, an area that has seen the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in Wake County.
ARE UP 23 TO 5284. >>> RALEIGH POLICE OFFICERS CAUGHT ON CAMERA NOT WEARING A MASK A TRAFFIC STOP. IT HAPPEN IN SOUTHEAST RALEIGH . THE AREA THAT IS SEEN THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASES AND DEATHS IN WAKE COUNTY. SLOAN HEFFERNAN SPOKE TO THE NEWSPAPER REPORTER WHO EXPOSED OFFICERS. SHE HAS MORE ON HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE HANDLING THE MASK MANDATE. >> Reporter: THESE ARE THE PHOTOS SUE STURGIS, POSTED ON FACEBOOK, ON SUNDAY. IT SHOWS TWO OFFICERS ON A TRAFFIC STOP NOT WEARING MASKS. >> YOU CAN SEE IN MY PHOTOS, THE OFFICER WAS LEANING INTO THE WINDOW. HE WAS TALKING TO THE PERSON THROUGH THE WINDOW. WE COULD SEE THAT THE DRIVER HAD ON A MASK. >> Reporter: STURGIS, UNDER FORMER REPORTER EMAILED THE PHOTOS TO CITY OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE POLICE CHIEF. >> IT IS JUST WRONG. WE HAVE MASK MANDATE IN RALEIGH. ARE PERFECT PUBLIC SERVANT, TO NOT BE WEARING A MASK, IT'S REALLY CONCERNING. >> ALL MEMBERS IN THE FIELD, AND THEY ARE WITHIN THE SIX THAT RANGE OF SOMEONE, EVEN OUTDOORS, THEY ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A MASK ON. >> Reporter: SERGEANT CHRIS KNOX SAYS TROOPERS ARE INSTRUCTED TO FOLLOW THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER. HE ADMITS THERE HAS BEEN TIMES WHERE TROOPERS HAVE FALLEN SHORT. >> KARLI IMMUNED TO FORGETTING? NO. I'VE GONE ON THE DIAPER RUNNING GOT TO THE FRONT DOOR OF TARGET AND FORGOT MY MASK AND TURNED AROUND. >> Reporter: OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER. WAKE COUNTY DEPUTIES ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO WEAR MASKS. THE SHERIFF SAYS THERE ARE CERTAIN INSTANCES WHEN DEPUTIES MAY NOT WHERE A MASK WHILE RESPONDING TO CALLS. STURGIS SAYS THE RALEIGH POLICE CHIEF RESPONDED TO HER CONCERNS WITHIN ABOUT AN HOUR OF SENDING THE EMAIL. SHE SAID OFFICER SHOULD'VE BEEN WEARING MASKS AND THE SITUATION WOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. >> CLEARLY, THEY ARE PAYING ATTENTION AND I'M GLAD ABOUT THAT >> WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. WE TRULY TAKE THAT TO HEART. WE MEAN IT. WE KNOW JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS VIOLATED THE LAW, DOES NOT MEAN WE SHOULD NEEDLESSLY EXPOSE THEM TO SOMETHING. >> Reporter: RALEIGH'S MAYOR RESPONDED SAYING ALL CITY EMPLOYEES SHOULD WEAR MASKS AS OUTLINED IN THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.
