The Johnston County Sheriff Office and Sheriff Steve Bizzell released a statement Tuesday afternoon on NC Governor Roy Cooper’s Stay At Home Order:
The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office wants to strongly encourage our citizens and the business community to abide by the Governor’s Executive Order to do their part in reducing the possibility of spreading the COVID-19 virus.
Citizens should be mindful that their decisions or actions could actually determine their fate, as well as that of others, including our first responders. Citizens need to use good judgment in adhering to the Governor’s order, and the warnings and recommendations from the CDC.
Public safety is the number one priority of government; however, government can’t do everything for everybody. As Sheriff, I take a lot of personal pride in using common sense in applying the law, including the Governor’s order and its enforcement. Deputies will continue to carry out their duties, understanding that people have to travel to work, and to acquire food, medication and other necessities, and our deputies will NOT be on the roadways stopping people randomly to ask them where they’re going. We understand that even in the latest Governor’s order, there are a lot of essential businesses that continue to operate, and a lot of Johnstonians must travel to work in order to provide for their families.
“My staff and I continue to come to work daily, our deputies are patrolling 24 hours a day 7 days a week, the dispatchers are answering the calls from citizens, our inmates are being supervised, and our cooks in the jail are preparing over 700 meals a day. Our ladies in the office continue to process permits to purchase, in order for our citizens to purchase a firearm to protect their families, themselves, and their property,” said Sheriff Bizzell.
“If there’s ever been a time in our nation, our state, and our county that we need prayer, it’s now. As we continue to work together through this pandemic, please find the time to keep our deputies and other first responders, nurses, doctors, and all individuals that are essential staff in your thoughts and especially in your prayers.”
