Sheriff Says His Office Will Not Enforce ‘Unconstitutional’ Vax Mandates

WATONGA – Signing on to a letter that has been used by sheriff’s departments across the state, Blaine County Sheriff Travis Daugherty last week said his office will not enforce “unconstitutional” COVID-19 vaccine mandates or force his employees to be vaccinated.

Daugherty signed the letter days after President Joe Biden said that workers at private companies with more than 100 employees will be required to get vaccinated or else submit to weekly COVID-19 tests.

That order is expected to come through the Labor Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA.

Oklahoma public officials have vowed to fight the order, with Gov. Kevin Stitt saying “there will be no government vaccine mandates” under his watch. Others have praised the order as a necessary tool to stop the spread of COVID-19 and the delta variant.

The sheriff’s letter says the pandemic has created “the most turbulent and challenging times” in memory. It says mask mandates and business closures were created with the intent of protecting communities, but are “clear violations of our constitutional rights.”

“We are now facing a new mandate in our community with vaccine mandates being announced recently,” the letter says. “I do not have an issue with someone getting a vaccine or choosing not to get a vaccine. … I will not be forcing any employees of the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office to be vaccinated. I also will not be enforcing these unconstitutional vaccine mandates on our great citizens of Blaine County to steal their freedom of choice.”

The letter quotes the Declaration of Independence and says Americans should “never surrender” their freedoms and rights. “I will serve the Blaine County citizens and will do everything … to protect your Constitutional Rights,” it says. Mask mandates and other

COVID-19 mitigation efforts have repeatedly been upheld as constitutional by courts across the nation, though Oklahoma was never under a statewide mask requirement. The Biden administration will likely argue that mandating vaccines at large companies falls under federal authority to regulate interstate commerce. If implemented, the rule may affect local employees at businesses like dollar stores, retail chains, fast food restaurants, oil and gas companies, and agricultural firms.