A New Mexico county sheriff has deputized around 20 church members during an in-person church service in an move to avoid Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s stay-at-home public health order meant to slow the spread of coronavirus, KRWG reports.
According to Sierra County Sheriff Glenn Hamilton, the mass deputization provides him with some extra help when it comes to administrative duties and crowd control, but he also pointed out that law enforcement is exempt from stay-at-home orders, giving the newly deputized members the ability to attend church services.
In the meantime, the new deputies do not have any law enforcement powers unless they’re called into service.
