Lafayette doctor shares opposition to West Lafayette mask mandate in email sent to city

Dr. Casey Pickerill questioned the constitutionality and scientific support of the West Lafayette mask mandate.

Mayor John Dennis continues to defend the mandate, saying he consulted lawyers and health leaders.

Community is that mask wearing, social distancing and proper hygiene are key to slowing the spread of coronavirus.

However, one lafayette doctor questions west lafayette's decision to issue a mask mandate.

News 18's anna darling worked to learn more about both sides of the story.

Dr. casey pickerill is a family medicine doctor who has his own practice in lafayette.

He sent an email on september 4th to the west lafayette clerk's email with the subject line "mask mandate" it reads quote "please stay within your authority boundaries.

Trust the citizenry to use common sense in living our lives.

There is no unequivocal scientific evidence to support your policy" this was shared with me by west lafayette city councilman nick deboer, which he says is public record stand up???

Dr. pickerill works in this building here at the corner of south and 26th streets in lafayette.

A spokesperson for franciscan health confirmed he is a member of their medical staff.

And he even served as the chair for the franciscan alliance western indiana board from 2011-2013.

"part of my job is looking after the public's health and safety.

West lafayette mayor john dennis says he consulted with the tippecanoe county health department and with leading doctors from franciscan and iu health about the effectiveness of wearing masks.

"the science is clear.

And so i felt that for our community because we wanted to be consistent with what was going on at purdue university, i thought that it was imperative that i go ahead and make the masks mandatory" he also worked with the city attorney to make sure it was legally sound.

"when we crafted the executive order, that was crafted by our city attorney.

And he and i sat down and went through some bullet points, he referenced a lot of other material to make sure it was appropriate and constitutional" a local judge did rule against the fining aspect of the mandate without city council approl.

However last tuesday, the city council voted unanimously in support of the mandate.

News 18 did reach out to dr. pickerill via email.

I asked if he did not support wearing masks as an effective way of slowing the spread coronavirus, if he wears masks while treating his patients and if he could explain how the city of west lafayette is overstepping its authority.

I also asked if he would like to talk on camera about this.

He replied, quote: "speaking as a citizen.

Let's frame it this way rather than your w: you show me how it's constitutional.

I respect my patients' wishes and wear a mask."

Mayor dennis says he would rather overly aggressive rather than complacent when it comes to fighting this invisible threat.

"i deeply love my community and so i felt that if i was going to take a step off the ledge it was going to be towards the benefit of my community and that's exactly what i did."

Anna darling news 18.

Mayor dennis issued the executive order on july 13th.

That's just nine days before governor holcomb joined several other midwest states in issuing a statewide mandate.

The lawsuit previously filed against the city has now been dropped since the city council's vote.