Sheriff Mitchell,

In regard to your report in the Lake County News, on Nov. 4 about the procedures followed after the boating incident on April 29, 2006, in which my sister Lynn Thornton was killed, I would like to tell the people of Lake County that your concern for our family and justice for our sister Lynn is a myth.

Throughout this ordeal, there was not one attempt made by the sheriff’s office or the district attorney to contact our family. Even our letters to you and District Attorney Jon Hopkins went unanswered.

When we called the sheriff's office upon learning what had happened to our sister, your office – after realizing who we were – HUNG up on us seven times. We have the phone records to prove it.

Were you hiding something? It would seem so. Respect for our family? No indication of that? This is how we have been treated by your office, and the office of DA Hopkins from the very start of this ordeal.

Sheriff Michell, you stated that you “embraced” Russell Perdock the night of the tragedy. This statement turns my stomach. My sister lay dying in the hospital while your professional demeanor faded away and the effort to keep Russell Perdock clean at any cost began.

Regarding the answer to question No. 14 in your responses to the community's questions, you state you did not cite Russell Perdock for the violating boating laws because he was not observed by officers doing anything unsafe. It seems to me the vast majority of criminals who were tried and convicted were not observed in the commission of their crimes. So I do not buy your answer.

My sister was killed, and you made the preposterous claim that no officer witnessed the crime. Tell me, isn’t Russell Perdock an officer of the law? Isn’t he bound to report the who, when and where of any crime either on or off duty? After you “embraced” Russell Perdock did you ask for an official report? Was he not bound by law to report the truth? We are talking about the taking of a life, not a traffic ticket.

What I am trying to get through to you, Mr. Mitchell, is that you dropped any pretense of professionalism in this travesty of justice. Your words of sympathy to our family falls on deaf ears. How do you sleep knowing a fellow peace officer has died, and you were unwilling to get to the truth? Is Russell Perdock that important to you and DA Hopkins?

Roger Thomsen lives in Cameron Park.