A Michigan county sheriff suggested he will not enforce the governor’s controversial stay-at-home order before clarifying the comments the next day.
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson was asked during a radio interview Friday about the Michigan barber, Karl Manke, who lost his license after he continued working despite his business being deemed nonessential.
“First, you know, people have to talk about the Constitution in its entirety. And that’s the separation of powers,” Swanson said when asked about a neighboring sheriff where Manke operates not enforcing Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s orders. “And the sheriff is the executive branch of that separation. We enforce laws — with discretion, remember that.”
“It is dangerous for police officers to determine what’s right and what’s wrong. Otherwise I could look at Lafayette [Boulevard in Detroit] and say: ‘You know, by the order of the sheriff, I don’t agree with the speed limit. Go as fast as you want.’ I can’t do that. But what I can do is say: ‘I’m not going to park cars there and pull over everybody going one (mph) over,'” he continued. “I tell this to my people in Genesee County, because I have seen people and I have seen people on the nursing side … the business side, they’re dying. We have not raided a business. We have not shut a business down. We’re not pulling people over. We’re not writing tickets. And don’t expect us to do it.”
Swanson appeared to backtrack the comments Saturday, saying, “I’ve answered the question, ‘Sheriff, what are you doing about people?’”
“Are you going to arrest them? Are you going to raid their place? No. We’re going to continue doing what we do: put public safety, health, and wellness at the top priority,” he said.
He added that he “applauds” the governor’s executive order and hopes for compliance from citizens.
Michigan has become a hotbed of protests and controversy over Whitmer’s extended state of emergency order. Protests to reopen have formed in Lansing in recent weeks, including one protest in which people carrying rifles and other long guns gathered in the House chamber and shouted at legislators.
The Democratic governor, however, has remained adamant that lockdown orders must be followed.
“These executive orders are not a suggestion,” Whitmer said last week regarding those who are “doubting” her authority. “They’re not optional. They’re not helpful hints.”
