Santa Cruz Sheriff’s deputy comes out of retirement to help enforce shelter-in-place
PLEASURE POINT, Calif. (KION) A team of about a dozen sheriff's deputies were tasked to patrol Santa Cruz counties unincorporated coastal area to enforce the shelter-in-place order.
Starting this Thursday, the county health officer closed all beaches and parks to the public for a week.
Former Santa Cruz county sheriff's Sgt. Joe Clarke came out of retirement to help enforce the new rules. Clarke is an avid surfer, but now he's having to crack down on the week long no surfing order.
"It's one of the hardest things I've done, but I'm glad I could do it," Clarke said.
Clarke is a familiar face around Pleasure Point and many locals walking by say hello as they pass by him on East Cliff drive.
“I’ve been surfing for 45 years. This is my spot. I thought it would be fitting if I could help out in any way, it would be right here,” Clarke said.
As of Friday afternoon, there have been 150 citations for breaking the shelter-in-place order. Since the new restrictions, only one surfer has been cited for going in the water. KION cameras were there when the Santa Cruz area man was dished the $1,000 ticket.
“It’s going to be zero tolerance. If you go surfing, we’re going to wait for you to get out of the water,” Clarke said.
Clarke said, since the order went into place Thursday, neighbors in Pleasure Point have helped remind people of the closure.
“A man from out of the area dawned his wet suit getting ready to go out and the locals stopped it, before they even came to us,” Clarke said.
The new rule is clearly stated with caution tape and signs around beach entrances. The stronger restrictions were put in place to avoid big crowds by the Santa Cruz coast over the holiday weekend.
“The majority [of the surfers] are for it. They’ve been helping us keep people out of the water and educate people. We all want to get back to the water. Hopefully the 15 comes soon,” the retired sergeant said.
Santa Cruz Police have also handed out more than 40 citations since the shelter-in-place was ordered.
