After ‘prom cruise’ in Kansas town, police may cite violators of stay-at-home order

Police in a northwest Kansas town may issue citations to people who violated the coronavirus stay-at-home order during a “prom cruise” for high school students.

Oakley City Administrator Bradley Pendergast said in a news release that social media showed some prom participants “brazenly disregarded” Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order.

Event organizers had previously been advised that the Oakley Police Department would allow the prom cruise around town to happen, Pendergast said. But authorities had stipulated that all participants had to stay in their vehicles and could not get out to congregate.

“The City understood that these seniors and parents were upset that there would be no prom and that they wanted to do something in the absence of an official prom,” Pendergast said.

However, not everyone followed the rules, and the city administrator said their actions “were inappropriate and in direct violation of the Governor’s executive order.”

“The Oakley Police Department will be investigating this matter and those who are found to be in violation may possibly be cited for violating the Governor’s Stay at Home Order,” Pendergast said. “This is an action that the City did not want to take, but if the City would fail to act it could result in more gatherings and events being conducted over the duration of the Stay at Home Order.

“We are aware that this is a difficult and unprecedented time, but it is the duty of the City to do what we can to preserve the safety and health of our citizens.”

Oakley is a town of about 2,100 people around 180 miles west of Salina on I-70. It is the county seat of Logan County, though the city extends into Gove and Thomas counties.

Neither Logan County nor Thomas County has any confirmed cases of COVID-19. Gove County has one, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

“I want to assure everyone that currently Logan County has no positive COVID-19 cases,” the Logan County Health Department said in a Facebook post on Monday. “It think that is largely due to the precautions our community it taking. Your dedication to staying home and your social distancing practices are paying off.”