Grundy Reporter

Grundy County Sheriff Ken Briley has let it be known his office has no intentions of enforcing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order.

"I've received many calls here at the Sheriff's Office regarding the Governor's Executive Order and how it affects businesses, church services, weddings, graduation parties, and events on private property, among a host of other COVID-19-related questions,” Briley said in a statement. "People have called asking for permission and/or guidance on what they can and can't do, and what will happen if they exercise their constitutional rights. Will they be fined? Will they be arrested? Will the Sheriff's office stop them if they deviate from the Governor's Executive Order? The short answer is no.”

Briley’s stance is in keeping with the one taken by Grundy County State's Attorney Jason Helland, who has gone on record with his decision not to prosecute any such cases.

Briley, however, wants residents to keep in mind that business owners have a right to establish rules and protocols regarding masks and safety precautions in their establishments, and is urging everyone to think about safety in whatever they do.

"The first thing I tell those who ask is thanks for being responsible and trying to do the right thing,” he added. “I believe most of the residents of Grundy County are doing the right thing, but want to go about living their lives. That includes day-to-day activities. Most of these calls have come since the governor extended the stay at home order and lumped Grundy County in with Cook County.”

As of May 22, Illinois reported 105,444 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 4,715 deaths. Cook County has 28,484 confirmed cases of COVID-19, while Gundy County has 84.

In arriving at his own position, Briley seems to have been heavily influenced by the moment at hand.

"Kids are graduating from school, leaving for military service and parents and family members want to celebrate those graduations and have family gatherings before their sons or daughters go off to serve our country,” he said. “People are getting married and beginning their lives together and want to share that joy with their families. Needless to say, people want to live, not just exist.”

Even if he wanted to, Briley wonders how much he could legally do to stop people from exercising their Constitutional rights.

"This is new to all of us and I don't claim to have all the answers, but what I do know is the citizens of Grundy County elected me as the sheriff not to trample on their constitutional rights, but to defend them," he said. “I took an oath to uphold, support and defend the constitution and I will do that to the best of my ability, so long as I am your sheriff. That, you can count on."