Deputy’s Shooting Death: Reporting, Sheriff Gates Come in for Criticism

* In reference to the recent articles (Dec. 29 and Dec. 30) about Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Scanlan, I was disheartened to read that The Times had resorted to a tabloid-like character crucifixion of this deputy.

For whatever reason, The Times felt the need to attack Scanlan’s character by disclosing that he had failed to meet past child-care payments and had an outstanding equipment violation ticket. The Times also discussed pending litigation involving Scanlan as well.

The statement by the Urban League’s spokesperson hinted that, somehow, the investigation may be tainted or handled incorrectly because the fallen deputy, Darryn Robins, was black.

I guarantee that these issues will have no bearing whatsoever on the outcome of this tragic case and subsequent investigation. I dispute the relevancy of these issues and believe that The Times had to rely on such tactics due to the lack of information from the Sheriff’s Department or the district attorney’s office.

However wrong the deputy was, nothing can change the fact that he accidentally killed a fellow deputy on Christmas Day. He will have to live with that for the remainder of his life. No doubt that he will always remember the second slaying victim in this case: his character.

KENNETH J. RAMSEY

Lake Forest

* I am dismayed at the sensationalism with which you have been reporting the tragic death of Sheriff’s Deputy Darryn Robins. It seems that the press is using the tragedy as an opportunity to launch a political attack on Sheriff Brad Gates.

I agree wholeheartedly with the foundation on which the press’ role in society is based--that the public has a right to know about government’s activities. I also strongly believe that the Sheriff’s Department would have been irresponsible and gravely remiss to immediately release “facts” about the incident.

The deputies at the scene, who I remind you are human, were probably in shock and even hysterical, which must have made it difficult to determine what exactly occurred. The Sheriff’s Department, as with most police agencies, does not investigate its officer-involved shootings. To allow for independent investigation, the district attorney’s office conducts the investigation, which could be compromised if the Sheriff’s Department were to overstep the fine line it must walk in releasing information.

Your portrayal of the sheriff as having a self-serving political agenda behind his actions may be accurate: However, the press is just as politically motivated as any of our elected officials. You both owe the public honesty and forthrightness.

Granted, the sheriff could have probably done a better job of reporting the incident so that the inference was not that Deputy Robins shot himself, but your subsequent bloodletting, including reporting all the dirt you could drag up about Deputy Brian Scanlan, is shameful. Would that we as a community be more noble in our behavior and grieve the loss of a fine human being and public servant, help heal instead of irritate the wound, and send our hearts out to Deputy Robins’ family, including his fellow employees who mourn his death.

DENISE PORTER

Lake Forest

* A deputy is dead at the hands of a fellow training officer. Shot because he and his partner ignored the single most fundamental gun safety rule (They would have learned gun safety from an NRA course).

It is time to look into Gates’ attempt to hide the facts of the deputy’s shooting. It is time for a new sheriff.

BRYAN BRIDGES

Huntington Beach

* The death of Deputy Sheriff (Darryn Leroy) Robins, reportedly (accidentally shot) by Deputy Sheriff (Brian) Scanlan occurs at a critical time; a time when county residents are rallying to halt criminal violence.

The manner in which county officials are seemingly stonewalling law enforcement violence against fellow deputies raises serious concern.

It would appear that a violation of some policy, code or regulation by Deputy Scanlan contributed to the death of Deputy Robins.

If county officials and Sheriff Brad Gates continue to walk the path of former Los Angeles Police Chief Darryl Gates, I suspect the result will be a loss of public confidence in law enforcement.

It would be a shame for such to occur at a time when the public wishes to embrace law enforcement to end criminal violence.

J. STEWARD

Laguna Hills