Letter: No doubt Pierini is best for DCSO
To the community,
With the race for Douglas County sheriff nearing an end I would like to offer the following observations:
First, I have repeatedly heard that Dave Brady wants to cut the volunteer programs, calling them “non-essential.” I am one of the 200-plus volunteers currently serving the sheriff’s office; I am a citizen patrol officer. By being able to recruit, train and retain people that are willing to donate their time Sheriff (Ron) Pierini saves Douglas County taxpayers approximately $1 million per year. The various volunteer services allow the sworn deputies to devote their attention to real-time public safety. I cannot understand why Mr. Brady would want to eliminate programs that do so much good and save so much money.
Second, Mr. Brady has constantly hammered his point that we are not safe in Douglas County because of the ineptitude of Sheriff Pierini. This is absurd. Sheriff Pierini is one of the most competent head of a law enforcement agency I have ever known … and I’ve known several. He is highly trained — as is his entire department — and possesses great acumen as a street cop and as an administrator. I believe his deep and abiding love for and dedication to the residents of Douglas County are what drive him. I’ve been greatly impressed by his proactive approach to crime deterrence and prevention, and his aggressive approach toward gang activity is an excellent example. Recently I heard someone say that we have a gang problem here because they saw some graffiti on a wall. I spent a lot of time investigating gang-related homicides in Phoenix before retiring and returning home to the Carson Valley. I can assure all that we do not have a “gang problem” here.
Third, Mr. Brady has said that DCSO should reduce salaries and benefits of command staff and raise salaries and benefits of officers. How? DCSO has nothing to do with these items. They are set by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners. Mr. Brady was a commissioner for six years. Does he not know this?
Finally, Mr. Brady wears a DCSO uniform in his campaign ads as if he is still affiliated with and endorsed by the sheriff’s office. He also has a DCSO badge emblazoned on his posters and website. I find that to be manipulative, disrespectful and at the very least a gross misdemeanor for impersonating a law enforcement officer.
I have seen firsthand the high quality of leadership exhibited by not only Sheriff Pierini but his entire command staff. The morale in this department is incredibly high, and the dedication and professionalism are a reflection of the sheriff. For months we have heard Mr. Brady deliver a message: in him lies “hope” for the uninformed, huddled masses of Douglas County, and he will save us by bringing “change” to the sheriff’s office. Personally, I have had enough “hope and change” lately to last a lifetime.
Tom Martel, Minden
Boy, where are on earth are you getting your information. Had you been following the debates it was made abundantly clear by Mr. Brady that he would never eliminate or even degrade such an important program. In fact, it was Ron Pierini who in one of the recent public debates made the statement, “Reserves aren’t real cops.” I know Dave Brady was a volunteer reserve deputy sheriff for 15 years here in Douglas County, after serving as an active police officer for 8 years with the Redondo Beach Police Department. Dave earned his badge and the right to wear his uniform. Dave knows first hand, and well understands the importance of the volunteer programs, and how critical they are in our law enforcement system… I encourage you to go back and check where you are getting your facts.
Mr. Martel is making things up, but misses the real issues. There’s a story in today’s paper about a gang-related home invasion robbery. Brady and primary election candidate Michael Gyll have been telling anyone who will listen that the gang problem has gotten away from the good old boys (my characterization, not theirs) that run DCSO. During the forum last Tuesday, Pierini blabbed his gang task force officer’s name – not too bright. Gang officers and their families are targeted by Nortenos, so he put this guy and his family in danger for the sake of campaign brownie points.
Since early on in the Primary, Mr. Brady has referred to cutting out many the non-essential programs revealed by the Priority-based budgeting (in Priority-based budgeting-speak, they are referred to as 4th Quartile, e.g. “non-essential”). When Brady spoke of it publicly he used the term 4th Quartile (probably counting on the fact that no one in the room would have a clue what he was referring to). Also, an examination of audio and written transcripts of anything Sheriff Pierini has stated during the campaign will reveal that he has never said or implied, “Reserves aren’t real cops.” This is an inherently absurd allegation. Imagine a sheriff commissioning an individual with full police powers and then looking at him or her and saying, “You’re not a real cop.” Sheriff Pierini vigorously supports all of his deputies, full-time and reserve. As far as Brady wearing the uniform and using the badge, a “used to be a cop” has no right to use these in a campaign, period. In other cases of politicians wearing uniforms (police/military) during campaigning it has been deemed to be a big, fat NO,NO. The exception is what Pierini is doing: he IS the current Sheriff and the Office of Special Counsel has deemed his donning of his uniform during campaigning to be appropriate.
Lynn Muzzy’s comment above is actually quite bizarre. At the 36 minute point of the last forum Sheriff Pierini proudly noted that Ron Miller is the officer that leads the Gang Unit. EVERYBODY knows that Miller heads up the Gang Unit. Miller makes it a point to hand out his business card to every gang member with whom he comes in contact. To say that Pierini “blabbed” the officer’s name and thus put his family in danger for the sake of the campaign is absurd. I’m thankful that there are audio and written transcripts of these meetings.