Biden’s vaccine mandate can’t be enforced to the local law enforcement, Berkeley County Sheriff says he won’t mandate his colleagues to get the shot after Biden’s announcement

South Carolina – Biden overreached his authority and federal laws don’t apply for the local law enforcement, Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis said in a statement on Monday claiming that he won’t mandate his colleagues to get vaccinated following Biden’ vaccine mandate announcement.

“The recent executive orders from President Biden have provoked questions and concerns from our citizens. I am committed to protecting the constitutional rights of those who live and work in Berkeley County.” Sheriff Lewis stated.

“We would like to remind citizens; local law enforcement cannot enforce federal laws. I, personally, do not believe our citizens medical choices are of concern to your Sheriff. I would recommend that our citizens consult with their primary care physicians to establish a medical plan that fits their individual needs, if you so choose,” he said.

Employees are expected to use extra caution when it comes to the general safety, but no such thing as vaccine mandate has been ever applied or will ever be applied, he added.

On Friday, South Carolina Sheriff’s Association released a statement in regards to the vaccine mandate announced almost two weeks ago by president Biden expressing concerns of how the mandate will work and look like when it comes to the law enforcement, taking into consideration the opinions from citizens and media in South Carolina.

“While the Administration has asked the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to develop a rule that will require all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require workers who remain unvaccinated to produce a negative test result at least weekly, such rule does not currently exist and will require a notice and comment period prior to implementation,” the statement says.

The statement added that due to the possible litigation of the mandate, the rules of the order will more than likely be further delayed.

“Quite frankly, we all should be leery of government overreach on any level. South Carolina citizens should not, however, worry about their Sheriffs enforcing federal law,” the statement says.

The statement ends with officers saying they are “committed to fulfilling their Oaths of Office, protecting citizens’ rights and freedoms, and preserving, protecting, and defending the Constitution” of South Carolina.