Centre Police Chief Kirk Blankenship has said that Centre Police will not be issuing citations or arresting anyone for not wearing a mask – however – he added if a business requires a mask for you to enter please be respectful and wear your mask.  These businesses did not issue this mandate and they’re simply trying to comply in order to keep their doors open during these troubled times.  Should anyone create a disturbance they will then be asked to leave the property.

Blankenship said his department isn’t going against the governor’s mandate, and does urge residents of Cherokee County to take every precaution possible, and follow all guidelines in order to help stop the spread of COVID-19, including wearing a mask and observing the six-foot distancing rule.

Meanwhile Ft Payne Police Chief Randy Bynum has said “We will not be writing citations or arresting anyone in violation of this mandate, until we get a call about someone causing a disturbance – if we can help educate in these situations about the health advantages of wearing a mask, we will – If we receive a call from a business and a patron refuses to wear a mask to enter the business, is causing a disturbance, and will not leave the premises, a Disorderly Conduct arrest will be the last result.  This face cover/mask mandate is set to expire on July 31st, 2020 at this time.  Please help set good examples by wearing your mask to do our part to help us get back to a healthy normal lifestyle.”