Listening In
Sheriff Brad Gates’ letter to the editor (May 8) implies that we can trust him to listen in only on conversations of major drug dealers, not phone calls of law-abiding citizens, if California has a wiretap law.
I was appalled when I read his letter. This is the same Brad Gates who allowed college professor George Wright’s class to be secretly taped, then “forgot” about it in a sworn declaration. And allowed former Register reporter Chuck Cook’s phone conversation to be taped.
I could go on, but I believe the point has been made.
Drug abuse in our society is a major problem, and I do not question aggressive legal means to curtail it. But to place additional authority in the hands of a sheriff who has a demonstrated track record of abusing citizens’ rights would be inappropriate, untimely and dangerous.
PRESTON GUILLORY
Santa Ana
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