Southern California Sheriffs Say Their Deputies Won’t Enforce Governor Gavin Newsom’s New Stay-at-Home Order

Just one week after getting busted dining in an enclosed room without masks nor social distancing, Governor Gavin Newsom is already seeing real challenges to what he admitted was a loss to his “moral authority.”

Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes — who represents more than 3 million people in Southern California — stated that deputies in The O.C. won’t be making arrests nor responding to calls regarding violations of the governor’s orders. Barnes said his team will take an “education first” approach with citizens.

Sacramento — home of the Governor’s mansion and the State Capitol — is also pushing back.

“The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office will not be determining—including entering any home or business—compliance with, or enforcing compliance of, any health or emergency orders related to curfews, staying at home, Thanksgiving or other social gatherings inside or outside the home, maximum occupancy, or mask mandates,” Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said in a statement. “Further, we will not dispatch officers for these purposes … I would like to wish everyone a happy and meaningful Thanksgiving Holiday.”

The Central Valley is also getting in on the action against the governor.

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said that refuses to “make criminals out of normally law-abiding citizens” by enforcing the stringent order, which requires that 94 percent of Californians be at home by 10 pm each night.

Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva also shied away from mass enforcement, suggesting that they won’t be doling out tickets to those who are out past 10 pm. L.A. is the largest county in California, and also the largest county in the nation, with nearly 10 million people.

With the sheriffs of four major counties representing tens of millions of people, it is clear that Gov. Gavin Newsom didn’t just lose “moral authority” — it appears he has lost actual authority.