Local authorities are right to be skeptical of a new animal rescue organization in the area – due to its lacking communication and the appearance it intends to declare some level of policing authority – but should avoid any contractual arrangements and anything else that might play into its hands down the road.
Scott Borgioli recently founded the Hollister-based Humane Society of the Central Coast, which has no affiliation with the national organization maintaining a similar name. In a letter to local authorities, he expressed his goals as humane education, investigations into animal cruelty and the creation of a website.
Hollister’s interim Police Chief David Westrick has contended Borgioli has shown no interest in meeting face to face and instead has preferred communicating by email and a letter in which he laid out his group’s goals to the department and other agencies such as the district attorney and sheriff’s offices. Borgioli, in turn, has critiqued local authorities’ response to his group.
He said he found a business card from Sheriff Darren Thompson on his door 11 days ago and received an email from Thompson last week. Borgioli also claims that he saw a police officer take a picture of his Chevrolet Tahoe, which he says serves as the humane society’s “humane investigations and animal transport vehicle.”
Then last Thursday, the police department released a statement announcing that residents should continue using the animal shelter as their primary source for related problems, and that Borgioli had agreed to remove law enforcement insignia from his clothing and response vehicle.
Hollister police are on the right track in showing concern because there are several alarm bells with the new organization that Hollister and county officials should take seriously – the most disturbing of which is Borgioli’s expressed intention to conduct some level of investigation into what the group deems as animal cruelty.
Borgioli has no business portraying him or others as official investigators of the law. That is the reason why police and sheriff’s offices exist, and why they have dedicated resources toward animal control. There is good reason for legal authorities to endure extensive training and abide by strict standards – while there would be no accountability for an independent enforcer.
Aside from the obvious, potential liability in allowing Borgioli to act as the head of a rogue enforcement group – his own safety should be a major concern as well considering his intentions – his actions have given officials other reasons to cast doubt.
For one, Borgioli has shown a clear preference for dealing in writing with the local authorities while keeping away from having face-to-face contact. This, combined with the fact that he hired attorneys at the blink of resistance from authorities, sends a signal that he probably wouldn’t shy away from litigation. Especially considering the tight financial times and the vulnerability of local governments to civil court action, Hollister leaders should walk a careful line.
Hollister officials’ most responsible path is to treat the Humane Society of the Central Coast as they would any other new business. The city should weigh a business license application and ensure the organization is clear about boundaries when it comes to the law, and what level of investigative and enforcement activity is allowed.
