Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods has ordered employees of his Florida office not to wear masks while on duty, with the exception of a few. “This is no longer a debate, nor is it for discussion,” he said in an email to staff.
Woods noted the mayor of Ocala, Florida’s largest city in Marion County, vetoed a mask mandate recently passed by the city council. He said the veto is expected to be overruled, but that the ordinance frees government entities, and leaves the decision whether to mandate masks to the figureheads.
“So as far as we are concerned, my order will stand as you are on duty / work as my employee and represent my Office – masks will not be worn,” Woods wrote in his email, which was sent to CBS on Wednesday. News by Marion County Sheriff’s Director of Public Information.
However, in some cases, staff may wear “pre-approved masks only” if HR instructs them, and if they are in hospitals, the court, the prison, or public or private schools that have mask mandates for students. Deputies should also wear masks when on patrol, in case they need to respond to a nursing home or assisted living facility, send out a known COVID-19 address alert, or a call containing a high-risk parental individual , said Woods.
Marion County Sheriff’s Department
“For all of these exceptions, the moment enforcement action must be taken and it requires you to give an individual order (s) to fulfill, the mask will be removed immediately,” reads Woods email.
He said deputies should not wear masks at any special event or special detail.
“If at any time you are confronted by one individual who is complaining, touching you or just being a troublesome individual, you will tell them politely and professionally ‘I am not obliged to wear a mask, nor will I, according to the Sheriff’s Order and then walk away from them, “Woods wrote. “From that point on, it will be my responsibility and responsibility to take care of the person and answer their problem, complaint or their question.”
The email also describes guidance for visitors entering the sheriff’s department: Anyone who wears a mask will be asked to remove it.
“In light of the current events when it comes to the sentiment and / or hatred against legislation in our country today, this is done to ensure that there is clear communication and for the identification purposes of every individual who runs a lobby,” wrote Woods. “All our lobbies have glass barriers between you and them that the virus does not magically pass through.”
If a person does not want to remove the mask, they are asked to leave. If a visitor feels uncomfortable standing with the others in the lobby, Woods advises that his staff get their cell number and the visitor should wait outside.
“Well, I can hear the crying already, and just so you know I did not make this decision easily and I have been waiting for it for the past 2 weeks,” he wrote. “We can debate all day and argue about why and why not. The fact is, the amount of professionals that gives the reason why we should. I can find exactly the same number of professionals who say why we should not.”
Woods said that since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the sheriff’s office has not required wearing masks. “With just 900 employees, our number of cases so far has proven that the current way we approach the problem works,” he wrote.
“This is no longer a debate, nor is it for discussion. Please remember this whole pandemic is fluid and constantly changing the way things are done,” he wrote. “However, my orders will be tracked or my actions will be quick to respond.”
He closes the email with “Be safe!”
Florida has become an epicenter of the pandemic, reporting more than 550,000 cases of coronavirus and 8,700 deaths from the virus. Monroe County has reported at least 6,798 confirmed cases and 104 deaths, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Ocala Mayor Kenty Guinn on Monday upheld the veto against the mask mandate passed by the city council last week, and announced his decision in an appearance on The Sky 97.3 FM, the Ocala StarBanner reported. Guinn said the mandate would include a fine for non-compliance and that it would be too difficult to enforce.
Councilor Matt Wardell, who introduced the ordinance, however, said the requirements are not difficult. The fine would be $ 25 and companies would place signs asking customers to wear masks and oblige employees to wear them, he said, according to the Ocala StarBanner.
The mayor said the local police chief is also against the mandate. “My (police) boss and I talked about it,” Guinn told the radio station. “We will never write a fine. We just will not do it.” He referred to Ocala Police Department Chief Greg Graham, the Ocala StarBanner reported.
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