Letter From Deputy Was Just Hypocritical Political Diatribe
Letter From Deputy Was Just Hypocritical Political Diatribe
Editor,
I am writing in response to the letter written by Joe Silva, president of the San Benito County Deputy Sheriff’s Association (“Councilman Should Be Ashamed” (April 18).
As a peace officer, Deputy Silva should be the one ashamed for setting himself up as judge, jury and executioner. The last time I looked at a map, San Juan Bautista was still in America and in America everyone, without exception, is innocent until proven guilty. This includes Councilman George Dias.
Deputy Silva’s letter of self-righteous indignation is nothing more than hypocritical political diatribe.
Where was Deputy Silva’s letter of indignation when two large deputies severely beat an elderly Hispanic man, putting him in the hospital?
Where was his letter of indignation when Sheriff Curtis Hill stood by and did nothing about the beating, other than allow one of the culprits to retire at half pay and the other to continue working as a sheriff’s deputy?
Where was Deputy Silva’s letter of indignation when that same deputy, before retiring, fractured a man’s skull at a professional baseball game in Los Angeles?
As for being political, Mr. Dias opposes the sheriff’s contract for law enforcement coverage in San Juan Bautista. The sheriff and his staff are taking this opportunity to pump up questionable misdemeanor charges to felonies in an effort to get Mr. Dias off the City Council.
I would like to now address the assault allegation made by Sheriff’s Lieutenant Iler and Deputy Silva. In this letter, Silva said that Mr. Dias had “assaulted a peace officer working to protect and serve.”
In your April 17 article “San Juan Councilman Arrested for Assault,” Lt. Roy Iler was quoted as saying, “during the course of his duties, Deputy Leist was assaulted by Dias.” Iler also said “Leist suffered cuts to his head when he, the other deputy and Dias fell into nearby shrubs.”
This is not an assault. It’s called clumsy. It’s called an accident and it’s definitely not called a felony.
I personally talked to a witness to the entire incident who told me it didn’t happen the way the sheriff’s department claims it did. The witness said the deputies tackled Mr. Dias for no reason as he tried to go onto his property to shut off the electricity and Mr. Dias never assaulted or struck either deputy.
Based on Deputy Silva’s letter and his lack of indignation regarding criminal acts allegedly committed by his badge brothers, it appears as if Joe may have double standard as well as a personal political agenda.
Say it ain’t so, Joe.
Greg Zazueta
Hollister
