CODE OF DISHONOR

As a former member of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Volunteer Team, I served over 12 years with the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Volunteers; was elected volunteer of the year four times, providing the first certified SAR dog in 1995; and subsequently trained 11 more over the years.

The SAR team of men and women give their all in helping the needy even at the peril of their own lives.

Unfortunately, there have been a small number of negatives during those years. An incident at the Bixby Creek Bridge where a deputy wrongly attacked a Mid-Coast female fire captain and had to be physically restrained. An incident at the Big Sur Ranger Station where that same deputy physically attacked and struck another deputy for no apparent reason and had to, again, be physically restrained.

When those incidents were investigated I stated the truth rather than follow the “Blue Code.” My own status fell rapidly and I was verbally attacked by the same deputy for my presumed folly. Although he was required to attend anger management classes, he was subsequently promoted to sergeant and, as I understand through the grapevine, his behavior has not changed much, if at all.

In a meeting with Sheriff Mike Kanalakis and his top aides, I again recited the same two incidences. A letter from Chief [Eduardo] Lorenzana, shortly after that, informed me that those incidences never occurred. In other words, I lied.

I stand ready to vindicate my name by giving the names, places and incidences that occurred, to any one wishing to follow up and prove the truth of my statements. However, I would prefer to not be forced to name the offender and, most particularly, involve the good deputies and volunteers that also witnessed these events and who prevented them from becoming an even greater problem.

If Sheriff Kanalakis again denies that these incidents occurred, what other unlawful acts of much more major importance has he possibly denied the truth of? Law enforcement persons must be held, and hold themselves, to the highest principles of morality and integrity. Apparently that is not the case with this sheriff. -Monty D. Reitz | Pacific Grove

INFORMATION, PLEASE

I am a 71-year-old disabled senior citizen who cannot drive and cannot get to the polls, because the county registrar puts my precinct voting place an impossible walk from my residence and MST does not provide public transit. Therefore, I must make use of the vote by mail option.

I just picked up this week’s Weekly hoping to find your election endorsements inside. Unfortunately, by not printing them in a timely manner, you have left them too late to be helpful for those of us who must cast an absentee ballot.

Your endorsements are invaluable, particularly when it comes to unknown local candidates and arcane propositions. You would not believe how many of my peers discuss and are influenced by your opinions. Seniors vote. Give us a break and print your endorsements in time for them to be considered before sending our ballots in time to reach the registrar by the deadline. -John R. McConnell l Monterey

Editor’s note: Fair point. We will run our endorsements in a more timely fashion in the future.

CORRECTION: Last week’s news story [“Communal Cops,” May 20-26] stated that four cities are forming a joint powers authority for public safety. Carmel has not yet made a decision and is considering other options.