Police officers trespassed an individual during Tuesday's Rochester School Board meeting, barring the person from entering school district property for one year.
Officers escorted the individual from the boardroom during the public comment portion of the meeting. Neither the police department nor the School District would provide the name of the individual who was cited.
"These things do not work; take them off our kid(s)," the man said as he left the room, referring to face masks. That was followed by applause from some people in the audience.
The confrontation was the first time police officers have trespassed someone for not complying with the School District's mask policy during a public meeting. Board Chairwoman Jean Marvin issued a statement at an earlier meeting, letting the public know the School District would trespass anyone for not complying with the mask mandate.
At an earlier meeting, Marvin recessed a proceeding for 30 minutes until everyone in the room agreed to comply with the requirement.
After leaving the boardroom, the individual, as well as several others, continued arguing with the officers in the parking lot of the Edison Building, where the meetings are held. When speaking with police and school officials, the man repeatedly said he was medically exempt and that it would be a HIPAA violation for the district to ask him what that exemption was.
RPS Director of Operations Scott Sherden responded to the individual, saying he offered him a face shield as an alternative.
1/8: A person is trespassed from Rochester Public Schools' Edison Administration Building for not wearing a mask properly to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during a school board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, in Rochester. Protective masks are required in school district buildings. Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin
2/8: A person is trespassed from Rochester Public Schools' Edison Administration Building for not wearing a mask properly to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during a school board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, in Rochester. Protective masks are required in school district buildings. Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin
3/8: A person attending a Rochester School Board meeting wears a skull face mask Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, at Rochester Public Schools' Edison Administrative Building in Rochester. Protective face coverings are required in Rochester Public Schools buildings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin
4/8: Wes Lund speaks during a Rochester School Board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, at Rochester Public Schools' Edison Administrative Building in Rochester. Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin
5/8: Wes Lund speaks during a Rochester School Board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, at Rochester Public Schools' Edison Administrative Building in Rochester. Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin
6/8: Scott Sherden, center, executive director of operations with Rochester Public Schools, along with Rochester police officers talk with a meeting attendee who refused to properly where a protective mask to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 during a Rochester School Board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, at RPS' Edison Administrative Building in Rochester. The person was trespassed from the building. Protective masks are required in district buildings. Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin
7/8: A person is trespassed from Rochester Public Schools' Edison Administration Building for not wearing a mask properly to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during a school board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, in Rochester. Protective masks are required in school district buildings. Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin
8/8: A person is trespassed from Rochester Public Schools' Edison Administration Building for not wearing a mask properly to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during a school board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, in Rochester. Protective masks are required in school district buildings. Joe Ahlquist / Post Bulletin
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