Homer police now say they are not really encouraging people to rat on each other

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DEPARTMENT SAYS BREAKING UP AA MEETING WAS CORRECT

Homer Police Chief Mark Robl last week encouraged people to report on those not complying with the State health mandates. Must Read Alaska reported on the statement pictured below, and also that Homer Police raided a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, where participants said they were practicing social distancing.

Now, the police department is walking back that statement, as seen in the department’s statement on social media:

“Hello, this is Ryan, Lieutenant for HPD. I was enjoying a day off and spending some super quality time here on Facebook when I came across an article that got a little traction, suggesting we (Homer Police) are encouraging you all to “tell on” each other and that we are asking for your help in reporting violators of the governor’s health mandates….come on, really? We have enough to do already. 

“Chief Robl recently put out a public service announcement saying our focus for enforcing the Governor’s mandates is educating the public and he shared the State’s email address for anyone who wanted to report non-compliance. Nowhere did he encourage anyone to tattle on their neighbors. We have actually received many calls from citizens concerned about others not practicing social distancing or self-quarantining after travel. If you’ve been paying attention, most of the cases of COVID-19 in our state are travel related. 

“We here at HPD are doing our best to keep the spread down and the curve flat. To emphasize what Chief Robl said, we are focusing on education, not enforcement. That being said, we chose to stop an AA meeting last week. This was not an easy decision to make. We also made suggestions on how they could keep the group going while still following social distancing guidelines and health mandates, while staying close to the sobriety they work so hard for. 

“Our goal is to work with you, our community. Together, we can find solutions as we navigate these crazy times. We’re all in this together,” Lt. Browning wrote.

24 COMMENTS

    • Only Broadway musical I ever liked. That lawyer (Richard Gere) was hilarious. I also liked the song “They Had It Coming” or whatever the title of it was.

  1. Slowly, softly, catchee monkey! No sudden movements to alarm the populace and slowly normalize the erosion of basic human rights. Tell them that it is for their own good that they don’t make their own decisions about what is best for themselves.

  2. Looks like ‘Ryan’, lieutenant, that is, didn’t get a chance to read the “Message from Mandate 11”, put out on behalf of his department, via chief Robl, where the “message” gives an email address to notify if any citizen/resident wishes to report any individual or business for non-compliance with said “health mandates”. Kinda looks like setting up a ‘rat line’ to me. Of course, “public” employees seem to have a little more leeway than regular old citizens. Remember the ‘sanctuary for illegals’ pushed by that area and narrowly defeated by locals.

  3. Well, to be fair, Governor Dunleavy did start this by telling those who want to rat on a business or individual to do so through that official @alaska . gov email address.

  4. Shucks. I was all ready to rat out my ex-hubby, who was secretly meeting with Peninsula Democrats to jump start a new signature drive for Recall Dunleavy.

  5. Crimestoppers. Just because they provide a # doesn’t mean they are encouraging you. Do they have a Bearcat swat vehicle?

  6. First it was Barney Fife in Seldovia and now it’s the Keystone Kops in Homer. Must be something in the water down there.

  7. Not the first time Robl has made a statement that shows why he should not be the chief of police, and am sure it won’t be the last. No matter how Browning tries to spin it, Robl said it and owns it. But he hasn’t lost anything, like his job, his income or benefits. In fact, Robl retired from the City of Homer as the Police Chief a number of years ago. Then he negotiated a very sweet deal and came back as the Police Chief. He receives his full state retirement with all the benefits as well as a full generous salary from the City of Homer with all the benefits. All of this is a matter of public records.

  8. Oh……..when we said to report those not in compliance………
    You thought we were *serious*?

    Ba ha ha! Oh, no. We were just joshing yall!!!

    LOL!

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