Once again, the local yokel county sheriff is caught abusing his authority (Re: “Why Worry,” July 24, 2008). When will the citizens get fed up with his shady activities, disguised within law enforcement authority that was bestowed upon him by the unwary and now duped and abused citizens of SLO County?
He has flaunted California law, is under investigation for allegedly secretly taping a fellow deputy without a court order, kept confiscated medical marijuana until a court order and finally a threat from a judge forced him to return it, and he obtained confidential records of medical marijuana patients.
If he wants to uphold federal laws that contradict our state laws, he should quit being a California law enforcement official and become a federal gumshoe.
This so reminds me of sheriffs of the Old West who abused their authority while increasing their own power. The SLO County Sheriff should be recalled by SLO voters for failure to abide by California state laws, which were approved both by California voters as well as the state legislators.
This article appears in Jul 31 – Aug 7, 2008.