Newspaper’s Chastising of DA, Sheriff was Inappropriate
Editor,
Talk about ridiculous media scrutiny. You should be ashamed of yourself for demanding additional remarks from District Attorney Candice Hooper, and for chastising Sheriff Curtis Hill for quickly giving the public the reason why the shooting was justified.
I was also involved in an altercation with a drugged-out suspect who also died, and the results of the death were the same. Too many drugs in his system! If drugs were good for you, they would be legal. Sure, the deputy may have violated a ride-a-long policy, but that is not the public’s right to know, but rather just the reason why the deputy was either justified or not justified in the shooting. The bottom line is, he followed the use of force guidelines.
Rather than chastise law enforcement, why doesn’t the Free Lance inform its readers, instead creating distrust? For example, why not print out the San Benito Sheriff’s Use of Force policy. After all, it is public. I’m sure Candice Hooper reviewed the policy and made the proper determination.
Regardless of who was in the car, whether his daughter was there, who he rarely gets to see because of the nature of law enforcement, or a citizen ride-a-long, their safety is paramount. The outcome would have been the same, even if there was no one in the car!
Yes, even law enforcement get the pucker factor, but that’s due to drugged-out, enraged drug addicts who do not respond to pain; therefore, lethal methods are required. It’s easy to be a Monday morning quarterback, isn’t it?
No one who works for the Free Lance has a law enforcement history, so how in the world can you justify trying to implement new policy? Maybe it’s time for some Free Lance ride-a-longs so you’ll have a clue, and until that time, try not to label the public as “anxious, curious and bewildered.” Just speak for the Free Lance instead.
Andrew Tully, Mount Shasta
Clock Been Broken Since 2006
Glad to see your article on the clock, our city logo. Just a small misprint. It’s been broken, or should I say, shot out, since the Saturday of the 2006 non-rally. I brought this to the attention of the City Council at the time.
Robin Pollard, Hollister
