STAR JOURNAL STAFF

The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office has announced it will not enforce  Governor Tony Evers’ mandate requiring the wearing of masks, citing “a belief that this order is in violation of the Constitution which all deputies” have sworn an oath to uphold.

Additionally, because the governor’s order includes reasons why a person is exempt from wearing a mask, including for health reasons, “it is not the place of law enforcement to question citizens about their medical or mental health and thus we will not be enforcing the mask mandate.”

Ever’s Executive Order goes into effect Aug. 1 through Sept. 28. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 61 of 72 counties are experience high COVID-19 activity, including Oneida and Forest counties. As of Thursday, July 30, Oneida County has had 84 positive test results, up from 20 positive tests July 1. View the governor’s press release here.

Captain Terri Hook asks that citizens do not call the emergency line about mask violations, as the department will not be responding to those calls.