Marion County police officers may not wear face coverings.
Sheriff Billy Woods told deputies of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday that they are not allowed to wear face masks to protect themselves from COVID-19 unless they are stationed in a hospital, directly working with a suspect who may have the virus, or if they are at high risk for a serious infection. Woods also forbade visitors to the sheriff’s office from wearing face masks.
“My order will stand as is when you are on-duty/working as my employee and representing my Office — masks will not be worn,” Woods wrote in an email obtained by the Ocala Star-Banner. “For all of these exceptions, the moment that enforcement action is to be taken and it requires you to give an individual orders/commands to comply, the mask will be immediately removed.”
“As for special details and/or any special events (paid or not), masks will not be worn. Effective immediately the entity that has requested and has hired a deputy for a special detail will be given clear instruction by Darian Tucker at the time of their written request that masks will not be worn (unless one of the exceptions above applies). In addition, if you are the special detail deputy you will again advise the contact person that a mask will not be worn by you,” he said.
Woods said that the order was necessary to allow for clear communication between officers and the public. He acknowledged the nationwide protests against police brutality and said that he does not want to place deputies at risk by giving muffled orders to the public.
“In light of the current events when it comes to the sentiment and/or hatred toward law enforcement in our country today, this is being done to ensure there is clear communication and for identification purposes of any individual walking into a lobby,” Woods wrote.
“We can debate and argue all day of why and why not,” he added. “The fact is, the amount of professionals that give the reason why we should, I can find the exact same amount of professionals that say why we shouldn’t. Since the beginning of this pandemic the operation of this office has not changed and no wearing of masks has been put in place.”
Florida does not have a statewide mandate requiring face masks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised using a face-covering indoors when in public to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
