MARION COUNTY, FL – “This is no longer a debate,” he says.
A Florida sheriff is sick and tired of the arguments.
Sheriff Billy Woods sent out a memo to his deputies referencing the current CDC requirements and how he wants his officers to do it differently. The current CDC requirements regarding Covid-19 are as follows in the workplace:
CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering as a measure to contain the wearer’s respiratory droplets and help protect others. Employees should not wear a cloth face covering if they have trouble breathing, cannot tolerate wearing it, or can’t remove it without help.
Cloth face coverings are not considered personal protective equipment and may not protect the wearers from exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. However, cloth face coverings may prevent workers, including those who don’t know they have the virus, from spreading it to others (CDC.gov., 2019).
The memo was obtained by Fox 35 on Wednesday and in it he says that effective immediately, any individual walking into any one of their lobbies (which includes the main office and all district offices) will be asked to remove their mask if they are wearing one.
He added that this is something that is important as it relates to officer safety and as people are openly displaying their hatred for the police. He believes that this would ensure clearer communication and help identify people and their reason for walking into the lobby.
Sheriff Woods instructed officers to deal with questions relating to their lack of wearing masks as they are mandated by CDC, by “politely” telling them they are not required to wear one and walk away.
This memo was received by 900 people who are currently employed by the sheriff.
Sheriff Woods stated in his memo that it was not open for discussion or debate.
He stated that the pandemic was fluid and constantly changing the way that it is handled. He did not address in his memorandum if he has had any officers test positive for Covid 19, what his current plan is with handling quarantines as it relates to officer exposures, and the severity of this virus.
The sheriff did add that his orders are to be followed or he would be forced to address them.
The Sheriff listed some exceptions to where deputies must wear masks, including “while working at the courthouse, the jail, in public schools, in hospitals, and in dealing with suspected covid cases.
Sheriff Woods addressed future whining by his employees with saying that he feels that the amount of professionals that list all of the reasons it is important to wear a mask, he said he could find the same amount of professionals that would say wearing a mask is not necessary.
On Wednesday, Florida health officials reported a total of 8,109 new cases, and allegedly 212 more deaths.
The statewide total for COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic is now allegedly at 550,091, with 8,765 deaths.
The seriousness of COVID-19 has proven to be more challenging for front line workers and all of our First Responders. In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job.
The officer down memorial page lists officers names that have died from COVID-19 and what police department they were employed in.
Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, California
Bedminster Township Police Department, New Jersey
Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office, Texas
Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
Bloomingdale Police Department, New Jersey
Boston Police Department, Massachusetts
Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Florida
Chicago Police Department, Illinois
Cook County Sheriff’s Office – Department of Corrections, Illinois
Cook County Sheriff’s Office – Department of Court Services, Illinois
Corpus Christi International Airport Department of Public Safety, Texas
Detroit Police Department, Michigan
District of Columbia Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, District of Columbia
Dumas Police Department, Texas
Durham County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina
Edwards Police Department, Mississippi
El Centro Police Department, California
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado
Glen Ridge Police Department, New Jersey
Harris County Constable’s Office – Precinct 5, Texas
Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Texas
Kansas Department of Corrections, Kansas
Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Florida
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada
Lauderhill Police Department, Florida
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi
Louisiana Department of Corrections, Louisiana
Melrose Park Police Department, Illinois
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina
Navajo Division of Public Safety, Tribal Police
New Orleans Police Department, Louisiana
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Florida
Paterson Police Department, New Jersey
Patton State Hospital Police Department, California
Pearl River Police Department, Louisiana
Phenix City Police Department, Alabama
Pike County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi
Puerto Rico Police Department, Puerto Rico
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, California
Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
Rutland Police Department, Massachusetts
Sands Point Police Department, New York
Santa Rosa Police Department, California
Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana
Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Institutional Division, Texas
Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Parole Division, Texas
Travis County Constable’s Office – Precinct 5, Texas
Troy Police Department, New York
Union City Police Department, New Jersey
United States Department of Defense – Naval District Washington Police Department, U.S. Government
United States Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection – Office of Field Operations, U.S. Government
United States Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection – United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government
Washington State Department of Corrections, Washington
Yakima County Department of Corrections, Washington
