DODGE — The Dodge County Sheriff's Department issued a statement Thursday after the Governor issued a mask mandate for the state of Wisconsin.
Within the statement, the Dodge County Sheriff's Department stated that they will be requiring staff to wear a mask on duty. However, they are being asked to voluntarily wear a mask when off-duty.
The same goes for the community. The department is asking the community to follow the mandate. However, they're asking that it be voluntary.
"Voluntary 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," said the department in a statement.
Due to some "loopholes which are open to interpretation" within the mandate, the Dodge County Sheriff's Department is "asking that you NOT contact the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office to report incidents where someone is not wearing a mask. Dodge County Sheriff’s Deputies will not be responding to or investigating these incidents."
In their statement, the department addressed reasons people may not wear a mask including health problems. However, they also mentioned that there "concerns with other legalities."
You can read the full statement from the department below.
