Shiawassee County Sheriff Brian Begole announced Monday that his office will not enforce Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order that was announced last week.
In a written statement posted on Facebook, citing that he was responding to “many calls” from local residents and businesses regarding the matter, Sheriff Begole shared his office’s position on the governor’s extension orders. Begole noted, “With limited resources, staffing and facilities, our priority focus will be on enforcing duly passed laws for the protection of Shiawassee County citizens. I have decided, within my authority, that our office cannot and will not divert our primary resources and efforts towards enforcement of Governor Whitmer’s executive orders.”
Begole added that the Michigan legislature did not extend the state of emergency beyond April 30, as required by law, and that the legality of the governor’s order is a judicial branch determination. Additionally, he noted it is the responsibility of the sheriff’s office “to serve and protect the citizens of Shiawassee County and to ensure their rights as described in both the state and federal Constitution.”
The move comes about a week after two county sheriffs in Arizona, citing the Constitution, said they would not enforce Governor Doug Ducey’s (R-AZ) stay-at-home order, and days after a California sheriff said he would not enforce similar coronavirus measures in the state because it was “time to get back to opening up.”
Governor Whitmer also recently failed to stop a 77-year-old barber from opening up his shop in what the barber said was a bid to save his livelihood and family. In that situation, Sheriff Begole had announced he would not use his manpower to shut down the barber’s business. Later, a judge also ruled in the barber’s favor.
Governor Whitmer issued an ominous warning to the citizens of Michigan, reminding everyone that the “state” grants business licenses, and that they should listen to the “state.”
This piece was written by PoliZette Staff on May 13, 2020. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.
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