Philadelphia police officers have been ordered to stop arresting criminals due to fear of the spread of the coronavirus, according to The Daily Caller.
In an email sent to all police officers in the city, they have been instructed to avoid arresting “non-violent” offenders, and instead to simply “detain individuals, confirm identification, and complete necessary paperwork,” before releasing them to be arrested at a later date with an arrest warrant. Among the “non-violent” crimes that are to be temporarily excused are “burglary, narcotics offenses, prostitution, auto theft, vandalism, and theft from persons.”
The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 came out in support of the move, with a statement from President John McNesby, who said that “we are supportive of Commissioner Outlaw’s directive,” which was “released to keep officers safe during this public health crisis.” However, there was widespread ridicule of the directive on social media, which suggested that the move was a shift towards lawlessness and near anarchy over fears of the disease.