Two Michigan Police Departments Refuse to Enforce Whitmer's Mask Order

Two Michigan police departments are saying they won't enforce Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's tougher coronavirus face mask mandate that went into effect Monday, and said they'll refer all complaints to the Democrat governor's administration. 

"Our deputies often run call-to-call most of their shift," Arenac County Sheriff James Mosciski said in a Facebook post, reports ABC affiliate WJRT in Flint, Mich. "Our residency doubles in the summer, and our call volume triples...we do not have the manpower to respond to mask violations."

The department will respond to complaints if people are causing a scene or refusing to leave a private business, Mosciski said, but meanwhile, he said complaints that people are not wearing masks as ordered should be reported to either the Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Administration at 1-855-713-3219 or the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.

"Long after the virus, we will still be neighbors," he added. " Be kind to each other!"

Whitmer's new order includes a potential $500 fine for violations. 

Meanwhile, the Sandusky Police Department Friday issued a statement saying that Whitmer's coronavirus orders have become too confusing, and there are too many, for the agency to follow. 

“For local law enforcement, this has become a very confusing issue as to what’s enforceable and what is not enforceable,” the department's statement said, so anyone who calls to report a face mask violation will be referred to call Whitmer's constituent service line, at 517-335-7858.

A third department, the Gratiot County Sheriff’s Office says it will receive complaints about face mask violations, but its deputies won't be handing out tickets. Instead, deputies will take information and forward it to the county prosecutor's office or the Michigan Attorney General for review. 

The Gratiot office will, however, issue trespassing complaints upon request from local businesses concerning people who won't wear face masks inside, and will forward reports to local prosecutors.

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