I”ve heard a lot about the Lake County Sheriff”s Department lately. I would like to share my personal experiences with them and others.
Some years ago, my youngest son had a drinking problem, which frequently got him in trouble. I was present when the Mendocino County Sheriff arrested him in Ukiah. When I picked him up, he had bruises on his throat, back and chest, and his clothes were torn.
A few years later, the same son wound up in the care of the Lake County Sheriff”s Department. His older brother and I were speaking to the deputy, while my son was kicking the car seats and doors. The deputy was angry and yelled at him to “Knock it off.” When they drove off I told his brother, “He”s getting beat up again.”
To my surprise, they called me around 5 a.m., when they released him, which I know they are not required to do. When I picked him up, he told me he was treated with respect. When he is drunk, I want to hit him, and I love him.
Now, we come to last year. The sheriff”s department was called for the older brother. It took four deputies and being tasered several times to subdue him. Because he was so strong, they thought he was on PCP, which he wasn”t, but in their job they never know what they will encounter. In a big city, he probably would have been shot for resisting arrest. They treated him decently, for which I am very grateful. It”s too easy to complain, but most people couldn”t do their job. It is constructive to support our sheriff”s department.
I don”t think it matters, but for the record, my sons are Latino on my side of the family and Native American on their father”s.
Cheri Santos
Lucerne
