Fairness for Civic Officials

I have been a law enforcement officer for almost 20 years. Like most of my peers, I was attracted to this profession largely out of a desire to make an important contribution to the community. During prosperous times, we make substantially less than our friends and neighbors. The public does not raise an outcry against this inequity, but that’s OK because we never took this job to get rich. We only want to provide for our families and retire with some measure of security. Because of the hazards of our job, most of us don’t experience a full career or live very long after retirement.

The articles criticizing our local officials for the non-salary benefits they receive has been discouraging for many of us. The inference is that something unethical is going on behind the backs of the taxpayers. The Supervisors gave the benefits in question in lieu of salary increases, not as hidden rewards.

Criticizing retiring officials like Sheriff John Gillespie and Norm Hawkes for taking what they have worked for over their lifetime is a slap in the face after careers of sacrifice and service.

Combine benefits into salary if you must but don’t portray those who have served you so faithfully as greedy and self-serving. They deserve not only fair compensation but also our thanks and admiration.

BOB BROOKS

Thousand Oaks