NORTHEAST WISCONSIN – Days after Governor Tony Evers issued an Executive Order requiring masks in Wisconsin, law enforcement has responded in a big way. Nearly every Northeast Wisconsin County Sheriff’s Department has released a statement asking people not to call on specific mask violations and explained that the calls will not be enforced by law.
As of Sunday morning, of the 72 counties in Wisconsin, only 21 have either not issued a statement on the order or say they will enforce the mask order.
The following county sheriff’s offices in Northeast Wisconsin have issued a statement.
(Click Links To See Complete Statement)
“I’ve received quite a few questions about the new order requiring face coverings beginning Aug 1st. To be clear my Office will not investigate “face covering complaints”. We simply do not have the time or resources to devote attention to that type of complaint. We certainly ask that you abide with private businesses who have requirements while on their private property. We will continue to work within our community to combat serious crimes that face our community. We know that we have already lost 7 people to suicide this year, 3 to vehicle crashes and 0 to Covid-19. We certainly encourage citizens to make educated decisions and take necessary steps to ensure their own safety. As with any viral disease we encourage you to take steps to stay healthy, wash your hands, distance yourself, cover your cough, etc.
I support personal responsibility, education, and I support your right to “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. – Sheriff Bieber”
“In order to provide clarification, please be advised that the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office will not be responding to complaints of individuals violating the Governor’s mandate, nor will it be taking any direct law enforcement action as it relates to the Governor’s face covering mandate.”
“The Langlade County Sheriff’s Office will not respond to or participate in the enforcement of the order mandating mask use. This is a health department function and ultimately not a law enforcement issue.”
“Please be advised that at this time the Oconto County Sheriff’s Office will not be responding to or investigating complaints made solely on individuals violating the Governor’s mask mandate. The goal is to achieve voluntary compliance while providing education, not punishment.
“Please do not call our Communications Center to report mask mandate issues. We have limited resources to handle the call volume for our EMS, Fire and Law Enforcement partners. We are awaiting a decision by the Wisconsin Attorney General to determine if the recent mask mandate will be a law enforcement action or a Health Department function. Law enforcement agencies in Marathon County have discretion in all we do pertaining to enforcement actions taken such as verbal or written warning, citations or fines, or arrest. These discretionary practices are applied daily in all we do whether normal operations or virus related. This Office will continue to use those discretionary powers in all we do.”
“We ask the public to not call the Sheriff’s Office or the Outagamie County Communications Center to report individuals not wearing a mask. The Communications Center will continue to focus on handling urgent law enforcement, fire and EMS related calls for service.
Unfortunately, there has been a lack of communication between the Governor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office with local law enforcement and government leaders regarding this mandate and other COVID related restrictions.
We recognize COVID-19 is a legitimate public health concern so, for the health and safety of our community, we encourage everyone to continue to follow the CDC guidelines.”
“In order to provide some clarification, please be advised that the Brown County Sheriff’s Office will not be responding to complaints of individuals violating the Governor’s mandate, nor will it be taking any direct law enforcement action as it relates to the Governor’s face covering mandate. Consistent with our understanding of Executive Order #82, the goal is compliance and education and is not meant to be punitive. However, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office will continue to respond to reports or complaints from a business owner, manager or other premise owner who has already requested that an individual leave a premise for failing to comply with the face covering mandate as it relates to that specific premise. We anticipate that these circumstances will be rare, but enforcement is necessary under these circumstances because they are situations where a disturbance may be likely. In those situations, our focus is not on the face covering order itself, but rather the fact that the individual is not wanted in a particular place, that the individual has been asked to leave and has not complied with the request of the person in control of that premise. This enforcement response is consistent with most, if not all, of the other Sheriff’s Offices throughout Northeast Wisconsin.”
“Our approach has been and will continue to be to help educate, help clarify questions relating to the order, consult with the proper governing authority, and evaluate each complaint on a case by case basis. Compliance by the public is of course the avenue we have asked of our citizens in all matters during the pandemic and that has not changed. We encourage everyone to take precautions to keep themselves and others safe. We also understand and recognize different viewpoints and we are doing everything we can to protect people from becoming sick, while also protecting the individual rights of our citizens.
In order to provide some clarification, please be advised Door County Law Enforcement simply doesn’t have the personnel available to respond to complaints of individuals violating the Governor’s mandate. Door County Law Enforcement will continue to respond to reports or complaints from a business owner, manager or other premise owner who has already requested that an individual leave a premise for failing to comply with the face covering mandate as it relates to that specific premise. We anticipate that these circumstances will be rare, but enforcement is necessary under these circumstances because they are situations where a disturbance may be likely.”
“Please do not dial 911 to report concerns regarding face coverings. To report any COVID-19 concern in Winnebago County, to include face covering concerns, please fill out the form on the Winnebago County Website.”
“While the Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department will continue to serve our community and to do our part to keep our neighbors safe, is important to note that due to our limited resources, we can not and will not be able to respond to each and every complaint of an individual not wearing a mask where another may feel it is required.
It also important to note that there are circumstances in which an individual may not be able to wear a mask and we would ask that as in any other part of our daily lives, we show empathy and understanding. If you see an individual not wearing a mask which makes you uncomfortable, please exercise social distancing. If you are one of those individuals who can not wear a mask, be sensitive to those around you as well and do your best to create distance.”
“In order to provide some clarification, please be advised that the Calumet County Sheriff’s Office will not be responding to complaints of individuals violating the Governor’s mandate, nor will it be taking any direct law enforcement action as it relates to the Governor’s face covering mandate. Consistent with our understanding of the Executive Order, the goal is compliance and education and is not meant to be punitive. However, the Calumet County Sheriff’s Office will continue to respond to reports or complaints from a business owner, manager or other premise owner who has already requested that an individual leave a premise for failing to comply with the face covering mandate as it relates to that specific premise. We anticipate that these circumstances will be rare, but enforcement is necessary under these circumstances because they are situations where a disturbance may be likely. In those situations, our focus is not on the face covering order itself, but rather the fact that the individual is not wanted in a particular place, that the individual has been asked to leave and has not complied with the request of the person in control of that premise.”
Marinette County Sheriff’s Office and Menominee County Sheriff’s Office have not released a statement on the issue.
Wisconsin Counties not on the “Not Enforcing Mandate” list are:
Bayfield County
Ashland County
Rusk County
Price County
Eau Claire County
Clark County
Buffalo County
Jackson County
Juneau County
Richland County
Rock County
Dane County
Columbia County
Marquette County
Waushara County
Green Lake County
Menominee County
Marinette County
Ozaukee County
Milwaukee County
Kenosha County
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