Florida sheriff bans his deputies and office visitors from wearing masks

[Poiuyt]

A mandate from a local sheriff in Florida is going against the recommendations from scientists and government officials: masks will not be worn.

That was the requirement spelled out in an August 11 email to the department from Sheriff Billy Woods of the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

The mandate came as the City of Ocala, Florida put a required Mask Mandate Ordinance in place in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The Ocala City Council passed an emergency ordinance last week, requiring masks inside businesses. Though the city's mayor vetoed the ordinance on Monday, the City Council overrode the veto on Wednesday.

"Now, that ordinance exempts government entities and leaves the decision to the figure heads," Woods explained in the email, obtained by CNN. "So, as for us, my order will stand as is when you are on-duty/working as my employee and representing my Office -- masks will not be worn."

-snip-

And the order doesn't just extend to those on the payroll -- anyone walking into a sheriff's office, either the main office or a district one, will be asked to remove their mask, Woods wrote. If they don't, they will be asked to leave.

His reasoning? Clear communication, he said in the email.

"In light of the current events when it comes to the sentiment and/or hatred toward law enforcement in our country today, this is being done to ensure there is clear communication and for identification purposes of any individual walking into a lobby," he wrote.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/12/us/sheriff-no-mask-ocala-trnd/index.html

I love the state of Florida. I just wish they didn't have so many nut jobs.

[Thekaspervote]

1. I hope an employee there legally challenges that!

[Blue_true]

8. Or the County Commission weight in.

The Sheriff can try what he is doing, but the County will have to pay any damages that result from it.

[dchill]

2. That's "clear communication," all right.

Reactionary reaction.

[radical noodle]

3. That's my county

Ocala has a mask mandate (the mayor had vetoed it, but the council overrode the veto), so when they go into Ocala to the courthouse, jail, etc, they will have to wear masks. At least that's the information I heard late this afternoon.

I agree this could be challenged if someone wanted to spend the time and money to do so. Deaths have increased exponentially here and they want to ban masks. smh

[Blue_true]

7. My county too. 13 people died on one day this week, I think on Tuesday. nt

[radical noodle]

9. Terrible numbers

It's not as though we have any major cities packed with people. There's a lot of rural areas in Marion County. Stay safe, Blue.

[Blue_true]

10. The fact that the county is red and is run by mostly morons is a tell.

It seems like the majority of people here like backwardness on many issues. I believe that religion plays a large part in it, churches still hold a lot of sway over public discourse here and it is not uncommon for officials to hold “prayer” meetings while at work.

[louis-t]

4. Maybe they can charge him with manslaughter.

It won't be long before a death is traced back to him.

[Blue_true]

6. A Nurse that worked in the Sheriff's Office died from COVID19. nt

[Blue_true]

5. Unfortunately, he is the Sheriff in the county that I live in.

I saw a picture of his office today. He has a picture of Trump on his desk, the same way people put up pictures of family.

On another local front, the Ocala City Council mandated that masks be worn in indoor businesses. The republican Mayor vetoed the measure and got his veto over-ridden by a vote of 4-1, the Council is mostly republican. The City of Ocala Police Department doesn’t have a mask policy, but encourages officers and visitors to wear masks over their nose and mouth.

[Brainfodder]

11. Have never met a sheriff, and by golly I just intend to keep it that way?

Clear communication of the virus you stupid assholes!

[Hortensis]

12. I remember a conservative complaining about how liberal Marion

County's sheriff's department was. Only in comparison with the extremism that'd taken over surrounding counties, though he didn't realize it. Well, the disease spreads.

[spanone]

13. One thing the virus has done is outed how many fucking stupid people there are in America

I'm impressed