(WKOW) -- Several law enforcement authorities in southern Wisconsin have announced they will not enforce thestatewide mask order announcedThursday by Gov. Tony Evers.
According to the order,violations can result in a civil forfeiture up to $200.
DODGE COUNTY
Sheriff Dale Schmidtsaid in a Facebookpost that because of the legal difficulties with this order, the limited staffing they have available to enforce the mandate and the governor’s direction that the public should do nothing if they see someone not wearing a mask, Schmidt is asking that residents do not contact the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office to report incidents where someone is not wearing a mask.
"Dodge County Sheriff’s Deputies will not be responding to or investigating these incidents," he said.
GRANT COUNTY
In a Facebook post, Sheriff Nate Dreckman says his office does not have the resources to enforce the ban.
"As the Sheriff, I am granted broad discretion in the enforcement of laws and will not take any action on this order as the Sheriff’s Office doesn’t have the resources, nor is it clear who has actual enforcement power," he wrote.
GREEN COUNTY
District Attorney Craig R. Nolen said in a news release Thursday that his office will not prosecute people who are not complying with the mandate.
Nolen said the order was issued, "without lawful authority."
LAFAYETTE COUNTY
Sheriff Reg Gill posted to the department's Facebook page that people should not call the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center with mask complaints.
"Sheriff’s Deputies will not be responding to this type of complaint unless other circumstances require a law enforcement response," he wrote.
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN
Chief of Police Kyle Teynorposted to his department's Facebook page, "The Prairie du Chien Police Department will not be the enforcement agency to handle complaints of violations of Governor Ever's order."
"Please do not call the Prairie du Chien Police Department. Our Officers will not be responding to this type of complaint unless other circumstances require a law enforcement response," Teynor wrote.
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