Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office will continue to try and educate people who refuse to wear a mask, rather than enforce recent mask mandates.
On Friday, Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast released a statement on Facebook advocating for local control of the county’s Covid response.
He wrote that Marion County has diverse communities that have their own unique needs, values and beliefs.
“My office is committed to encouraging our community members to make educated decisions to protect the health and safety of our residents and visitors in Marion County. This is something we can accomplish, not through mandates, but with communication, compassion, and while respecting the different beliefs of our diverse community,” Kast wrote.
A year ago, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Polk County Sheriff’s Office said they wouldn’t cite residents for not wearing a mask.
Sgt. Jeremy Landers, sheriff’s office spokesman, said their approach has remained the same throughout the pandemic.
He said people aren’t going to be cited for refusing to wear a masks and deputies will try to resolve situations by talking “to people and point them toward positive solutions instead of letting things continue to spiral.”
Landers said if someone is asked to leave a business for refusing to wear a mask, deputies will help maintain the peace at the lowest level possible.
“We help educate people if we run into those encounters,” he said.
-Saphara Harrell
