Local

Osceola County sheriff, senator differ on vaccine mandates

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The legislative delegation met Wednesday in Osceola County, allowing elected officials and the public to talk about what they would like to see happen in Tallahassee.

Sheriff Marcos Lopez talked about staffing and retirement benefits for deputies, but Sen. Victor Torres wanted to know about vaccines and if the sheriff would be mandating them.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Lopez said he is a “constitutional officer,” and is “not going to infringe on anyone’s constitutional rights.”

READ: Osceola teacher removed from class pending investigation into boys made to clean ‘untidy’ restroom

Torres said it’s a matter of “the safety of the public.”

“We know first responders interact with our community, and we’d like them to first be safe in order to perform their jobs,” Torres said, “and also to interact in their own families, to make sure they don’t take anything back home. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated.”

READ: Orange County mayor to allow COVID-19 state of local emergency to expire

Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling for a special session to try and prevent mandates and loss of employment for those who don’t comply.

READ: “Thank God this deputy is alive”: Deputy sustains ‘significant injuries’ in motorcycle crash

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

0