During this time, Swanson noted the importance of the Constitution and also “separation of powers.” The Genesee County sheriff explained that his position entails the executive branch of the separation of powers; this statement came before noting that the executive branch upholds laws “with discretion.”
Finally, the sheriff noted that many businesses are dying because of Whitmer’s safer-at-home mandate. For this reason, Sheriff Swanson confirmed that he will not have law enforcement officers pull over individuals, issue tickets, or force businesses to close.
In his own words:
“I tell this to my people in Genesee County, because I have seen people and I have seen people on the nursing side… the business side, they’re dying. We have not raided a business, we have not shut a business down. We’re not pulling people over. We’re not writing tickets. And don’t expect us to do it.”
The Genesee County sheriff is not the only sheriff in Michigan to take this position. Brian BeGole, the Shiawassee County sheriff, has also informed that he won’t enforce the safer-at-home directive either.
