Logan County Sheriff Damon Devereaux let the public know on Monday that his office will not require their employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The notice was delivered through a social media letter.
“I’m appalled at some of the absolute dictator-like tactics we are seeing from our federal government and several other state governments. It flies in the face of everything our country has always stood for and is furthering the damage and division done to the people of this great nation,” Devereaux said in the statement.
The letter (posted below), which has been shared over 10,000 times with the super-majority showing their appreciation of the action, is nearly identical to letters published by the sheriff offices in Stephens and Ellis County and Cleburne County, Arkansas.
Devereaux, a Republican serving his second term as sheriff, said that they have seen an unprecedented amount of division, hate and contention among Americans since the beginning of the pandemic, which has become more intense since the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines.
“Thank You Sheriff,” Kelly Wanzer said in a comment. “Thank You for making a stand and speaking up for everyone! You are a true leader of our community! We have your back!”
The division appears will not be going away anytime soon.
“Sounds like Sheriff needs to find a different job,” Dennis Higgins said in a social media comment. “He is worried about politics and not the safety of the public.”
Deb Mason added, “Taking this position, is political. The Constitution speaks to individual rights, but also the common good. I’m sorry that the sheriff felt compelled to weigh in on this issue.”
In July, the Logan County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved a resolution that, in part, stated the County will not require their employees to take, or to prove they have taken, any vaccination as a condition of their employment. Related article: BOCC approves resolution calling for state officials to protect privacy, liberty
Also in July, Devereaux informed citizens his deputies will remove any unwelcomed person(s) off their property when it comes to door-to-door vaccinations. Related article: Sheriff: “Vaccination surveyors are in our area”
Last week, President Joe Biden announced expansive rules, mandating that all employers with more than 100 workers require them to be vaccinated or test for the virus weekly, affecting about 80 million Americans. And the roughly 17 million workers at health facilities that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid also will have to be fully vaccinated, according to The Associated Press.
COVID, Vaccinations in Logan County
Locally, the Oklahoma State Department of Health reports 310 active COVID-19 cases and 75 deaths with the latest data supplied on Tuesday morning for Logan County.
According to data supplied by the Oklahoma State School Board Association (OSSBA), Logan County ranks 70th out of the 77 Oklahoma counties when it comes to fully vaccination rates.
As of Sept. 7, Logan County showed 31.5% of eligible people (12 years and older) being fully vaccinated. 38% of the county population has received at least one dose.
The largest vaccinated county belongs to Oklahoma County with 61.7% of the people fully vaccinated. A total of eight counties have at least 50% or higher in full vaccinations.
Guthrie Public Schools
Guthrie Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Simpson reported the school district currently has 52 students with active cases and three staff members as of late Monday afternoon.
Simpson says those numbers are “trending down,” but cautioned board members that the numbers continue to fluctuate up and down.
“We are doing a fairly good job as a district,” Simpson told board members at the Monday board meeting.
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