How to resolve AdBlock issue? Like many citizens of Lake County I have recently attended debates where the three candidates for the sheriff's position have spoken.
During said debates I have heard current Sheriff Frank Rivero make mention that he was responsible for the creation of a random citizen feedback program. More recently I received a Re-Elect Sheriff Rivero pamphlet in the mail. Sheriff Rivero wrote that he “instituted random citizen feedback.”
When I first heard him refer to the program I thought back to the time in 2010 that I started such a program as a volunteer for the Lake County Sheriff’s Department under then-Sheriff Rodney K. Mitchell.
During September of 2010 I developed a Quality Assurance Program. The program was developed so that I could review reports written by department personnel, I would listen to copies of dispatch tapes and I would reach out to the public via service delivery questionnaires.
The findings of the program were used as a basis for training, for policy development and to make the department better at what they did.
Thinking that there must be a record of the existence of the program I reviewed the Lake County Sheriff's Department Web site. Looking under press releases for September 2010 I located a press release for Sept. 1, 2010, which fully explained the creation of a Quality Assurance inspector. The aforementioned program is fully explained in the release.
I certainly think that candidates for public office should tout their accomplishments but not claim accomplishments of others as their own.
For anyone wishing to review the aforementioned press release all you need to do is go to the www.lakesheriff.com Web site and click on the header labeled “Public Resources.” Then go to “Public Information Releases” and got to the 2010 press release archives and click on “09-September 2010.” Then scroll down to press release titled “Sheriff Announces Quality Assurance Position.”
When Sheriff Rivero was elected he requested that I continue to assist him with the Quality Assurance Program. Because of his animosity toward the administration of the department I felt it was best that I decline his request.
Jeff Markham lives in Lakeport, Calif.
Editor's note: The press release also is posted below.
