DuPage County Sheriff asks Governor to stop the threats

DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick has told Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker that the county is ready for reopening the business responsibly. He told that this is not the right time for the Governor to threaten the citizens with arrests for wanting to get their businesses back on their feet.

According to his Facebook post, he said that he stands with the DuPage residents and businesses in his rejection of stay-at-home orders that better fit Cook County. DuPage County is the second-largest county in Illinois with 920,000 residents. Mendrick also accused the Governor of trampling over his free speech rights.

He said in his Facebook post that Pritzker has threatened to withhold grant funds and reimbursements if he speaks out. He said that the County accepted any rule placed on them. They supported the Sheriff’s department with resources and physical help. Mendrick said in the Facebook post, “I will not have a polarized and threatened society when we are currently experiencing nothing but great treatment from our citizens and businesses.”

Mendrick said that science wouldn’t be ignored, in any measures to reopen, by the County. However, the County sees a different path than the governor has ordered. Mendrick said that they have created “super-hot spots” for the coronavirus by opening only the primary food sources.

“As our local restaurants continue to dissolve into oblivion, the reliance on food will cause more people to flock to the few that are open, causing very high potential virus transfer, food shortages, and a potential collapse of our economy,” he said on Facebook. “If other businesses were opened responsibly, wouldn’t that take away from congregation at the only few places left open?”