It sounds to me like Sheriff Frank Rivero has very good reasons not to release confidential databases and interdepartmental communication tools to the Robinson Rancheria Police, who do indeed appear to be strong-arming the Lake County Sheriff “gangsta style,” in order to bend the department to their will, using as bait $874,000 in much-needed funding, while Supervisor Rob Brown shamelessly plays one off against the other for his own political agenda, all the while acting like an innocent bystander to this naked power play.
If this is how the Robinson Rancheria Police operate, how can we possibly trust what they would do with the confidential databases and communication channels they so desperately want access to? Indeed, I would NEVER trust anybody who operates like a “Godfather,” pretending that every man woman and child in America is for sale. I don’t trust the Robinson Rancheria tribal police even one tiny little bit after reading the statements of Dave Mendoza, less so after reading Rob Brown's seemingly conflicted statements on the matter.
That Supervisor Brown has an ax to grind with Sheriff Rivero is no surprise; Brown actively campaigned for former Sheriff Rod Mitchell (who also commendably declined to give up the database for good cause, but who did receive Robinson Rancheria funding). That Supervisor Brown would not do everything in his power to see that the sheriff’s department has all of the resources it needs to protect the citizens of Lake County, instead playing politics for his own personal and political gain, surprises and deeply disappoints me. Unfortunately, it’s just typical of the narcissistic and divisive “blood sport” politics which are driving America, California and Lake County to ruin.
That Sheriff Rivero doesn’t respond to these strong-arm tactics does not surprise me either. I am extremely proud of our new sheriff for standing up to the “old guard” bullies who seek to undermine his integrity, his department and his ability to police Lake County. Sheriff Rivero is a breath of fresh air as far as I am concerned.
Supervisor Rob Brown is conversely revealing himself here to be a consummate political player, cynically working the angles, while crying insincere crocodile tears for Sheriff Rivero. Like we really need political brinksmanship and power games to be causing the financial deprivation of vital public services in this besieged county! Rob Brown should be throwing all of his considerable political weight behind Sheriff Rivero. The man won fair and square, and he obviously has guts and integrity. Sheriff Rivero is OUR sheriff!
The Robinson Rancheria Tribal Police and tribal council, Dave Mendoza and Supervisor Rob Brown are playing games with OUR families’ and our community’s safety.
The “Good Ole Boys” network of thinly disguised political payoffs and cronyism has GOT to go, in order for Lake County to move forward into a brighter future.
Paul D. Carlsen lives in Cobb, Calif.
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