Sudbury To Review Mask Policy For Town Employees, Police Included

SUDBURY, MA — The Sudbury Board of Selectmen on Wednesday will discuss a possible policy to require town employees to wear face coverings, which comes after complaints about mask-less police.

Every Massachusetts resident over age two is supposed to wear a mask in public, per an order handed down by Gov. Charlie Baker in May. But several residents have said Sudbury police aren't wearing masks during public interactions.

A resident wrote to the Board of Selectmen in July questioning the town's mask policy. The woman said that her friend's 77-year-old father was pulled over by a Sudbury officer who wasn't wearing a mask. When the man's daughter contacted police about it, she was met with "derision and attitude," the letter written by resident Jessica Lin said.

Chief Scott Nix and Selectman Dan Carty responded to Lin.

"I will consult with those we collaborate with in the health field to ensure protocols are appropriate," Nix wrote to her.

But on Sept. 14, another resident wrote to Town Manager Henry Hayes, the Selectmen and the Board of Health following up about the mask policy. Resident Ann Rettman wrote that she hadn't been able to get an update on any policy in months.

"I will continue to say this: I am stunned that this is a conversation that ever had to be pursued," Rettman wrote. "Sudbury is better than this. Our community deserves better than this."

Face coverings have been shown to slow the spread of coronavirus, especially cloth and surgical masks.

"Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus — particularly when used universally within a community setting," CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said in July. "All Americans have a responsibility to protect themselves, their families, and their communities."

But masks have also been a point of conflict across the country, with some refusing to wear them. In Massachusetts, failure to wear a mask in certain circumstances can result in a $300 fine per violation.