As a law enforcement officer for 32 years, including 14 years as chief of police of Clearlake, I find the actions of Sheriff Rivero and his administration appalling.

The last action where Lake County News has sued Sheriff Rivero for discrimination by acts of retaliation over news coverage is just another case in point.

If not fair and impartial with the media, this sets an example for the sheriff’s handling of other law enforcement matters.

Of great concern is the message this sends to the other staff and deputies of how his administration will promote and tolerate unfair and biased treatment of others.

When the code of ethics and the Constitution are violated by the sheriff, it leads to distrust of the organization and unfairly reflects negatively on the hard working men and women who serve daily to protect our communities.

A failure to properly comply with the California Public Records Act is a clear violation. When it targets one media source or individual, it is a valid case of discrimination.

In this case it appears the sheriff and his administration have acted in retaliation for media information that exposed improper operations and personal actions by Sheriff Rivero.

Once again, the county will have to spend time and tax dollars for actions caused by Sheriff Rivero’s failure to comply with the rules and regulations that govern public officials.

By not promptly releasing important public safety information to our news sources, community members will not be informed of potential risks and this puts all of us in danger.

Robert “Bob” Chalk lives in Kelseyville, Calif.