Dear Yuba County residents,

This letter is to address the feedback that we have received to a social media post regarding enforcement of the “Stay-in-Place” order in our county. First of all, we have been providing information as needed to those that we are finding to be in violation of the order and have yet to issue a citation as of the writing of this letter. We have asked and pleaded for our residents to use a common-sense approach to the order and to adhere to it. You can still go for walks, go fishing, go hunting and go for bike rides, etc., just please do so while practicing the safe distancing requirements. We continue to receive questions regarding the order, and I would ask that you read the order closely before asking your questions. Many are answered in the order.

The decision to take an enforcement approach has not been an easy one nor one without careful consideration. As the elected Sheriff of this county and a proud citizen of the United States, I do not take our civil liberties lightly. I have voiced my opinion and opposition of a ban on fishing, hunting and outdoor activities and understand that we all need a way to get away and distract us from our current situation. Despite our continued efforts to educate people in our county, we still have a high number of people that are completely disregarding the order and going about their routines as usual.

In order to offer a different perspective, I will provide you with some of the factors that I considered before adopting this position. The elected Sheriff in Yuba County also includes the duties of the Coroner within the county. The Coroner is notified of all deaths and is responsible for death inquiries and investigations when deemed appropriate, as well as issuing all death certificates. As the COVID19 Pandemic began to hit our country, I was skeptical and was of the opinion that it was being utilized as a political tool and was being “over-exaggerated.” As time went on, I continued to attend meetings and was shown statistics and models that are being utilized around the world. As part of the preparation for the “surge” or “peak” here in Yuba County, we have been tasked with preparing for the worst-case scenario. I will not share details and do not write this letter to frighten anyone but to give you another perspective. I am hopeful that the preparation is an “overreaction,” but to disregard the scientific data would be imprudent on my part.

The models that have been presented change drastically and the number of deaths decrease dramatically with social distancing and with adherence to some simple guidelines. With that being said, I feel that despite the infringements that many feel are being placed upon our community, it is my duty as the Chief Law Enforcement Official of the county to do whatever I can to prevent even one unnecessary death of one of our citizens.

The Yuba County Sheriff’s Department has taken steps to ensure that you have opportunity to renew CCWs and have asked our CCW instructors to continue to provide their services. We are sworn to defend the U.S. Constitution and Constitution of the State of CA against all enemies “foreign and domestic” and will continue to do so to the end. While our freedoms and liberties are of the utmost importance to all of us here in the U.S., I must say that the safety of our citizens must be at the forefront. While we are asking you to comply, it is only a matter of inconvenience and no one is asking you to give up your constitutional rights.

If you were told that you could save a child who was undergoing cancer treatment by practicing social distancing for a few months or that you could keep a loved one on this earth for another year, two years, or 10 years by doing the same, would you? That is what we are asking. And please know that every one of the number of deaths that you are seeing in the paper or on the news is someone’s loved one: a child, mother, father or significant other. This situation is going to grow more dire in the coming weeks/months and it is imperative that we as a society do whatever we can to protect our communities.

These are challenging and unprecedented times for all and many, many very tough decisions will have to be made over the course of the next several months. You may not agree with those decisions that are being made but please do your part as a member of our great nation and as a citizen of Yuba County. Any decisions will be carefully examined and those that benefits all of us as a whole will be the chosen path.

Those of you who are insinuating that this is anything other than for protection of our community are simply misguided and wrong. These difficult decisions I am tasked with making are based on the best information I am provided at the time. I will continue to reevaluate and reassess with each new development.

Respectfully,

Sheriff Wendell Anderson