Please advise your members that due to Corona/COVID-19 virus there is very little news for the media to report. With people staying home and very little activity for the media to report, your members’ off-duty actions could now make it to “front page” news due to the lack of news stories.
Please advise your members they need to be very careful off-duty and refrain from confrontations while off-duty and remind them to use seek counseling during this time if personal or home life issues arise.
Specific Areas Members Need to be Careful:
- Social media comments
- Neighbor confrontation – Take it to the HOA or call the local police. Don’t handle it yourself.
- Domestic confrontation – Leave the home or the situation if an argument gets heated. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you will be defending yourself or going hands on. Just leave. If you feel you are not able to leave the police, record the situation the best you can.
- Alcohol use – During these times don’t engage in binge drinking, as you know, this can result in disorderly conduct allegations and put the member on front page news.
Of course, don’t drink and drive or let your friends drink and drive. - COVID-19 precautionary orders – Even if you do not agree with the Governor, you need to comply with orders. If a park or playground is closed due to COVID-19, don’t go there and hang out. Find other areas for your children.
In addition, if any member is exposed to the Corona/COVID-19 virus while on-duty please make sure that member immediately notifies the employer for a workers’ compensation notification.
Our law firm is still open for business for our Associations. Due to the Governor’s order, we are keeping staff to a minimum to avoid any issues. We are still 24 7 by phone and we are happy to meet with any member at our office or anywhere, as is needed.
It’s our goal to get through this pandemic without losing any member to a media frenzy. They can call me directly if they have an issue, but they should not be engaging in off-duty activity that will cause media attention. Stay safe and well.
