Police video shows a Pullman officer suggesting partygoers keep to indoors or backyards — repeatedly emphasizing “out of sight, out of mind” — while ticketing a WSU coach for a recent gathering in violation of public health orders.
Officer Garrett Willis responded on Aug. 28 to a complaint about a party of about 25 people outside the home of Kamie Ethridge, the head coach of the WSU women’s basketball program. Pullman Police had previously warned they would issue infractions for violations of COVID-19 public health restrictions on large gatherings, social distancing and masks.
Video shows about two dozen people mingling in Ethridge’s driveway with drinks, camp chairs and a tent. None of the attendees appear to be wearing masks as Willis approaches. Children and dogs scurry underfoot.
“I’m going to give you the same advice I give everybody else,” Willis told Ethridge and others in the video. “We’re pretty much between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the community and stuff like that. Really the key is out of sight, out of mind, so backyard or in the house would definitely be better.”
Public health orders currently limit any social gatherings to 10 or fewer people. Guests should also wear masks and try to stay at least six feet from people they do not live with. Health officials have emphasized that indoor gatherings can present a higher risk of infection than outdoor activities.
“Sorry, I hate being the party police,” Willis said, handing Ethridge her ticket. “It’s not the most fun job to be ruining people’s fun. … If you guys want to do stuff in the future, my suggestion is inside or backyard. Out of sight, out of mind completely.”
Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins wrote in an email that he viewed the video footage after Whitman County Watch contacted him about the officer’s comments. The chief stated department supervisors had reviewed footage from other party infraction calls, but had not seen any other similar advisements.
“After reviewing this video,” Jenkins wrote, “I will make clear to my staff that providing that advice is counterproductive and undermines the intent of enforcement, which is proclamation and ordinance compliance and reducing the risk of COVID-19 spread in the community.”
Pullman Police started immediately issuing civil infractions for failure to control premises or failure to disperse under the city nuisance party code on Aug. 27. They had stated more than a week earlier they would start ticketing parties following a rapid increase in calls about student parties and other public health violations.
In August, officers could only issue infractions to the hosts of unauthorized gatherings under city code. City officials have since revised the code to allow the ticketing of individual partygoers. That new rule goes into effect this week with first-time infractions starting at $250.
Whitman County Watch also identified one of the partygoers in the footage as the wife of a different Pullman Police officer. The woman makes disparaging remarks about the neighbor who reported the party, and at one point invites guests to move over to her house.
“We could go to my house,” the woman said as the party started to break up. “Go to my house. … If Kamie doesn’t want us, go to my house.”
The video includes the woman telling Willis her husband is “inside,” but it’s unclear if the other officer attended the party at Ethridge’s home or if any of the gathering moved to the couple’s home.
Jenkins responded that he interpreted the woman’s invitation to be contingent on 10 or fewer guests. He said he planned to look into whether his officer had attended the larger neighborhood gathering.
“[If] he was not wearing a mask or social distancing, he could have been in violation of the relevant RCWs,” Jenkins wrote. “The presence of a Pullman Police officer at an event where violations are occurring would also be problematic.”