'This is no longer a debate': Florida sheriff bans deputies, visitors from wearing masks
Source: Washington Post
August 12, 2020 at 2:32 a.m. CDT
On Tuesday, as Florida set a daily record for covid-19 deaths, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods prohibited his deputies from wearing masks at work. His order, which also applies to visitors to the sheriffs office, carves out an exception for officers in some locations, including hospitals, and when dealing with people who are high-risk or suspected of having the novel coronavirus.
In an email to the sheriffs department obtained by the Ocala Star-Banner, Woods disputed the idea that masks are a consensus approach to battling the pandemic.
We can debate and argue all day of why and why not. 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 shouldnt, Woods wrote in the email.
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Woods, whose office didnt immediately respond to a message from The Washington Post, participated in a phone conference with President Trump and other sheriffs on Tuesday.
The sheriff ended his missive by making it clear that he would brook no dissent.
This is no longer a debate nor is it up for discussion, he wrote. Please keep in mind this entire pandemic is fluid and constantly changing the way things are done. However, my orders will be followed or my actions will be swift to address. ...................................
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/12/masks-florida-ban-billy-woods/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wp_main
good gawd. this Dangerous sheriff talks to Trump and now puts all in his jurisdiction at risk for the #coronavirus.
Link to tweet
?s=20
Marion County, Fla., Sheriff Billy Woods has forbidden his deputies from wearing masks. (Marion County Sheriff's Department /Marion County Sheriff's Department)
Link to tweet
?s=20
BeyondGeography
(39,283 posts)Thats the idea, right? Gods will and all.
IronLionZion
(45,258 posts)Marion County is near the Villages, which is a cesspool of STDs and COVID
Blues Heron
(5,898 posts)Sheriff is truly doing Satan's work for Him.
PaulRevere08
(449 posts)Born and raised in Marion County, Sheriff Billy Woods has devoted his life to serving his community. Prior to becoming the Sheriff of Marion County, Sheriff Woods spent over 26 years at the Ocala Police Department (OPD), holding various positions within the department. Sheriff Woods holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration/Business Management from Columbia Southern University.
So, he has only lived in Marion County and only worked in LE. His "degree" is from a 100% on-line, for-profit university so he never physically interacted with any other students.
niyad
(112,434 posts)very important one, though. Our educational systems are broken. .deliberately, intentionally so.
madaboutharry
(40,151 posts)Maybe he'll change the rules of debate if he himself needs a ventilator. That seems to be what it takes with these idiots.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Dustlawyer
(10,493 posts)Some really unqualified people in charge of LE.
hlthe2b
(101,725 posts)It will visit you.
thucythucy
(7,986 posts)would be to err on the side of caution, even if there isn't a consensus {which there is, actually}.
Why would you want to put your workers, friends, family--even yourself--at risk?
Oh yeah, he's a Trumpster. "Screw science! I'm putting my faith in the sociopath-in-chief."
KentuckyWoman
(6,666 posts)WE are the standard bearers for individual responsibility, community involvement, charity toward all, fiscal responsibility, supporting institutions that work etc. There has not been anything conservative about the so called conservatives for a lot of years.
thucythucy
(7,986 posts)These days "conservative values" is a fig leaf phrase for racism, homophobia and misogyny. Conservatives offer nothing helpful, nothing original, nothing that works as policy, nothing in the way of simple decency and compassion.
Not to mention (which i will anyway) their collective cowardice and obstinate complacency in the face of the greatest genuine threat to American democracy since the rise of the Third Reich.
I'm hoping this year and next that the GOP will go the way of the Know-Nothings.
greymattermom
(5,751 posts)I'm sure Biden will make progress on that. All that crying about the deficit was theater.
Squinch
(50,773 posts)tanyev
(42,360 posts)It's one thing for maskholes to bitch about how they don't want to wear a mask. It's quite another thing for them to go after people who are voluntarily wearing masks.
Marthe48
(16,691 posts)His decree is infringing the unalienable rights of life liberty and pursuit of happiness. I hope he personally is sued into bankruptcy.
At least the ignoramus grabbed a day in the headlines.
gab13by13
(20,864 posts)Laelth
(32,017 posts)... as a Republican, naturally.
This is a dangerous, craven political stunt.
-Laelth
voteearlyvoteoften
(1,716 posts)Trumptown for seniors sheesh
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,085 posts)randr
(12,408 posts)that he can produce as many professionals that dispute use of masks?
Buckeye_Democrat
(14,847 posts)... who say there's just as many scientists who deny climate change.
Doesn't matter to them.
IronLionZion
(45,258 posts)That might include Alien DNA and demon sperm
Delphinus
(11,808 posts)similar to the global climate change debunkers.
UpInArms
(51,252 posts)There will be some employment opportunities in Marion County.
Chainfire
(17,305 posts)this guy passes as normal.
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)karma will offer solutions
Bengus81
(6,907 posts)For FUCKS sake..........
AirmensMom
(14,600 posts)We will never know if we did too much to stop the spread of COVID-19. But we will know if we didn't do enough.
We clearly did not do enough and jackasses like him are still not doing enough. But to prevent others from wearing masks should be criminal. The only thing he's right about is that it is no longer a debate. It should never have been a debate. But he got the rest wrong. His conclusion should have been that everyone should be wearing masks!
Lonestarblue
(9,880 posts)They are unable to distinguish propaganda from fact. Millions have been brainwashed by Fox and hate radio and live in an alternate reality that has no relationship to truth. And it isnt just the middle age and older people. Young people are being lured into the dark tunnels of the Internet and brainwashed by all sorts of sites like QAnon and worse. Millions of mostly White men belong to self-appointed militias that train to be prepared for the day when they need to overthrow the government. Their love of guns is far stronger than their love of humanity.
At least a third of the country (Trump supporters) has no understanding of world affairs and the US role in the world (our former one before Trump) or how government and the economy should workcurrently theyre not working at all. Theyre totally ignorant of science, and gullible in believing any charlatan who comes along making them empty promises. How do you rebuild a country with people like that!
lark
(23,003 posts)He's part of the killer cult and needs to be removed NOW!
bringthePaine
(1,726 posts)Buckeye_Democrat
(14,847 posts)Seems like they should visit local ICU's to check on the well-being of their tax payers too, without any PPE.
pwb
(11,205 posts)Like Trump a little man abusing power. He can't order health choices?
Botany
(70,291 posts)Dumber than a sack of hammers
Tom Rinaldo
(22,911 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)I hope he dies of COVID soon so his county can protect itself .
In the meantime, they'll have to protect themselves from their Sheriff.
Fla Dem
(23,351 posts)This area covers part of The Villages.
BumRushDaShow
(127,308 posts)the county itself was listed with a population of ~365,000, where about 1/2 of the county land area is Ocala National Forest.
bronxiteforever
(9,287 posts)Buckeye_Democrat
(14,847 posts)... people with horrible smoker's cough to visit them.
Just claim they're visiting to express their appreciation and support of the Blue Lives Matter movement, or some horseshit, while they basically cough out their lungs in front of them.
Tommymac
(7,263 posts)Fucking fascist murderous pig.
WVreaper
(618 posts)niyad
(112,434 posts)Going by your bio, you have no training in science, medicine, public health or ethics.
I wonder if you can be sued for wrongful deaths.
Major Nikon
(36,814 posts)AllaN01Bear
(17,378 posts)dware
(12,092 posts)as far as voting him out, probably not going to happen as his constituents are probably likeminded and will keep on voting him back in.
Aristus
(66,095 posts)B Stieg
(2,410 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)Gore1FL
(21,030 posts)Weird group.
BlueMTexpat
(15,349 posts)Covid-19 statistic - and before his policies get many others infected!
PatSeg
(46,804 posts)That is absolutely insane.
dalton99a
(81,068 posts)Mad Lib
(86 posts)Seems to me that if for every person who says wear a mask there are an equal number who say don't wear a mask, as this maroon says, that's the very definition of a debate. Don't those cops have a union?
Hotler
(11,353 posts)Prohibiting employees from using PPE for their protection my be a violation.
Hekate
(90,189 posts)While the bodies pile higher
LiberalFighter
(50,501 posts)JDC
(10,081 posts)Pure politics.
C Moon
(12,188 posts)mask wearing, said, "We are not the mask police."
He could have said any number of things, but he decided to tell the Orange County public to ignore the Governor's rules.
kairos12
(12,817 posts)Deuce
(959 posts)louis-t
(23,199 posts)Javaman
(62,439 posts)something is only a problem when it happens to them, everyone else can go fuck off until then.
csziggy
(34,120 posts)How are they going to know when someone is at risk or has the virus? His officers CANNOT know if someone is high risk until they talk to them and possibly expose them to the virus.
As for "suspected of having the novel coronavirus" it has now been shown that as high as 40% of the people who have the virus are asymptomatic and they themselves may not know they have it. Since that means that possibly 40% of his officers have it without knowing, this means that high risk people (or those with high risk people in their households) should NEVER interact with Marion County deputies under any circumstance.
In fact NO ONE should interact with Marion County deputies under any circumstances.
In a few weeks I need to drive downstate to see my sister. I will make it a point to avoid Marion County or at the very least not stop there. If I need gas or a restroom, I will make sure I take care of it before getting to that county. If you drive down I-10 you have to go through it, by the way.
cab67
(2,963 posts)If someone is wearing a uniform from the Marion County Sheriff's Office, that person is at high risk for transmitting COVID.
I would do everything I could to prevent such a person from entering my house, with or without a warrant.
RealityBasedNewYorkr
(118 posts)lsewpershad
(2,620 posts)Is a prick.
lsewpershad
(2,620 posts)Is a prick.
safeinOhio
(32,531 posts)lock your doors a keep the windows rolled up. Just yell that youll not roll down the window unless the officer puts on a mask. Self defense.
iluvtennis
(19,757 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,104 posts)SharonClark
(10,005 posts)"Woods, in an email dated Aug. 11, said my order will stand as is when you are on-duty/working as my employee and representing my Office masks will not be worn.
Ocala City Council passed an emergency ordinance last week requiring people to wear masks inside businesses. Mayor Kent Guinn vetoed it Monday and the council will meet Wednesday to consider overriding the veto.
Marion County set a single-day record on Tuesday for the most deaths related to COVID-19, with 13 more deaths reported."
https://www.ocala.com/news/20200811/marion-county-deputies-ordered-not-to-wear-masks
My favorite response to the paper's facebook page...
Mary Bodzo - We thank God for Sheriff Woods leadership and support him 100%.
Chaz Medina - Mary Bodzo Well, if people keep dying like they are you'll get to thank god yourself
JohnnyRingo
(18,581 posts)...that say why we shouldnt.
Of course he can. One just has to watch Hannity or Ingraham to hear professional republicans who know better than scientists and doctors. Online, I'm sure there are retired waste management workers who also know masks are a liberal plot.
bluestarone
(16,721 posts)If i were a citizen of that county or state, i pay taxes and fuck him if i decided to wear a mask in that building! WHO the fuck does HE think he is?
UserNotFound
(108 posts)that was my 1st thought...What an asshole!
cab67
(2,963 posts)Would he be liable if someone who interacts with one of his unmasked deputies ends up very sick from COVID? Or dies from it?
Because if so, I would imagine his county's insurers are having spasms right now.
C Moon
(12,188 posts)He'll change his mind, when it's too late.
CaptainTruth
(6,546 posts)Per OSHA:
Personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as "PPE", is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses.
...
When engineering, work practice, and administrative controls are not feasible or do not provide sufficient protection, employers must provide personal protective equipment to their workers and ensure its proper use.
jb5150
(1,177 posts)Let's ask Herman Cain ... or not
Grokenstein
(5,707 posts)Link to tweet
"Nice" to know nothing's changed all that much.
Mad dog, mad dog, what'cha gonna do, what'cha gonna do when he infects you
ancianita
(35,812 posts)Based on my time in both places, and meeting the people in Ocala, its reputation as the KKK capital of Florida is real.
Previous Ocala sheriffs were actuall grand wizards, and this sheriff? Who knows.
But I know that they don't give a fuck about 9th grade science.
What they care about is that more non-white people die.
They are lawless aggressive racists, the worst of the South.
BusyBeingBest
(8,049 posts)Last edited Wed Aug 12, 2020, 03:45 PM - Edit history (1)
of things like hardhats, safety harnesses, firefighter helmets, bulletproof vests, steel-toed boots, etc. just to see if those items become political too--will they then be opposed/banned by Republicans? Can we try to get them to stop protecting themselves for political reasons until they're all dead and gone? We could start with seatbelts, and work our way up.
soryang
(3,299 posts)Known for the surrounding thoroughbred racing farms owned by the wealthy horsey set, the area is a contrast in social inequity as massive wealth coexists with a community of poor that looks like it's stuck in the 1930s.
Skip the visit to Silver Springs, it's depressing. There are other springs elsewhere in the state that don't have such a gloomy community. imo.
Apart from the horsey farms, prisons are a major source of employment in the area. Any decent looking offices are those of professionals serving the wealthy who live there, including tax and estate and trust lawyers.
BlueIdaho
(13,582 posts)Sure as hell seems like it.