Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones has a message for Governor Gavin Newsom regarding the new California health order requiring all 40-million residents of the state to wear masks in public places to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Jones has no interest interest in enforcing the rule.
The Sheriff said in a written statement on Friday that he recommends that everyone continue exercising safe practices, including wearing masks pursuant to the Governor's recommendation, especially around those in high-risk groups.
But when it comes to ordering deputies to enforce the order, Jones said it's a minor offense and there is too great a risk for negative outcomes during enforcement encounters with people who choose to comply. He insisted that it would be inappropriate for deputies to criminally enforce the Governor's mandate.
"Accordingly, the Sheriff's Office will not be doing so," he wrote. "Rather, we will continue to operate in an educational capacity in partnership with the County Health Office."
Jones did offer an assurance that the Sheriff's Office and its employees will comply with the Governor's mask recommendations as much as possible.