Saying that his office will not be investigating violations of Governor Whitmer’s newest mandate regarding the wearing of face masks in public buildings, Van Buren County Sheriff Dan Abbott says anyone wishing to report such violations will need to contact either the Attorney General’s Office or the Michigan State Police.
Saying he “will not pull valuable resources away from” investigating crimes against persons and property in order to investigate complaints against gubernatorial executive orders, Abbott is making it crystal clear where his office stands on the issue, having released this statement to the media in the form of a press release:
In response to the Michigan Governor’s 147th executive order of 2020, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office will not be investigating violations of this order or the previous orders. Furthermore, the Sheriff’s Office recommends following the guidelines set forth by the CDC. Those guidelines include wearing a cloth face covering in public settings, socially distancing, and frequent handwashing.
The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office will investigate any violation of the Michigan Compiled Laws to safeguard the citizens of Van Buren County. We hold true to the oath of the office of the Sheriff. Violations of the Michigan Governor’s order should be referred to the Office of Michigan Attorney General or the Michigan State Police.
The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office will strive to protect its citizens and ensure that the constitutional rights and civil liberties given to every American are protected. We will dedicate our services to investigating crimes against persons and property and we will not pull valuable resources away from that to investigate complaints against the Governor’s Executive Orders.
