Sheriff deputies in one Northern California county saying they will not wear masks.
Sheriff deputies in one northern california county - saying they will*no* wear masks.
Action news now reporter jafet serrato has more on the tehama county sheriff's plan of action and reaction from those who live in the area.
To help slow the spread of the coronavirus governor gavin newsom put out a statewide mask mandate.
(show people out and about) (robert mcminn:) "i think masks are very important."
But tehama county sheriff dave hencratt is making it clear that his deputies do*no* have to follow the governor's mandate - releasing this letter explaining masks can "jeopardize the physical safety of his sheriff's deputies."
(alithia rutherford:) "if somebody feels that its their right not to wear one who am i to judge?"
Hencratt says masks impact "verbal and non- verbal language, reduces the sense of smell and taste, restricts breathing amd causes anxiety.
(robert mcminn:) "so a deputy is wearing a mask and its hindering his job if like they were in pursuit or something like that by all means they should not have to wear it."
(standup:) another concern - glasses can fog up when deputies wear a mask."
(clarence hemphill:) "if you did it by the fed osha or cal osha standards that would be a better protection there wouldn't be the fogging of the lenses, cause you know how to get them fit right."
Deputies can still wear masks if they want to.
(alithia rutherford:) "i feel that we should wear the masks to protect one another because if we're healthy then we can be carriers of covid-19."
(clarence hemphill:) "because then they won't bring it to you or when they forcibly stop us and interact with us."
Deputies must wear masks in the tehama county courthouse.
In chico jafet serrato action news now coverage you can count on!
Action news now reached out to the sheriff's office for comment about this story - they refused to talk to us.
The memo also points out that the risks of wearing masks "far outweigh the risk of exposure" from the coronavirus.### chico
WAAY 31's Breken Terry was at the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office after speaking with the Sheriff about their conditions.
