Sheriff’s Pay Raises Doubts

* Regarding the Board of Supervisors giving Sheriff Brad Gates a 9.1% salary raise, I have a suggestion.

Instead of a raise, reduce his salary by 100% in order to recoup the money the wimpy supervisors paid out on the civil judgments rendered against Gates since he’s held that office.

Why wasn’t that considered to be his personal ad infinitum raise until the voters got enough smarts to kick him out of office?

NICK NOVICK

Irvine

* Why should the people agree to a raise for the sheriff who was with California Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren and the federal drug czar in their attempts to subvert the will of the people on Proposition 215? County employees get laid off. The sheriff gets a raise. It’s a laugh.

FRED STEWART

Capistrano Beach

* Jail space doesn’t have to be a problem for Orange County. Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio has blazed a trail that is a slam-dunk for voters in Orange County. His tent jail outside Phoenix is a perfect solution for low-security inmates and, maybe just as importantly, white-collar criminals.

Like every other taxpaying citizen, I am disgusted by the idea of providing cable TV, air conditioning, gourmet coffee and other goodies to felons [in Los Angeles County]. The three-strikes law is working, and a stretch in a tent jail in the desert should be enough to disgust the minor criminals who now laugh while they get their three squares and more.

As far as transporting them to court, I would set up a TV link to the courtroom and the only time they are transported would be when they finish their sentences or are released for other reasons.

Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates wanted a 9.1% raise while his department is releasing miscreants who have served only a fraction of their time. It is totally understandable that Gates would like to continue to run a “first-class” operation. But as we have seen, the public welfare system is not well-served by this policy. Doesn’t anyone remember that we have recently declared bankruptcy because of failed policies?

The time is going to eventually arrive when there will be absolutely no choice between treating prisoners so royally and cutting back.

CHUCK NYQUIST

Garden Grove

* I was both shocked and disgusted to learn of County Board of Supervisors Chairman Roger Stanton’s proposal to give Sheriff Brad Gates a 9.1% salary increase. I have met and spoken with Stanton in the past and, frankly, I thought he was much smarter.

Stanton’s justification is Gates’ “considerable contributions to the County of Orange and as a key member of the county’s management team.” Supervisor William G. Steiner says Gates’ department has taken on additional duties in recent years, including responsibility for a new 800 megahertz radio communications system.

Does this mean that whenever taxpayers bankroll new toys for public servants that we must also give them raises to go along with the awesome responsibility of using them? Why did they not cite performance in the form of specific accomplishments, meeting objectives, efficiencies, improvements, operating costs and crime rates as measures for potential merit reward?

Labor is by far the largest percentage of the budget. This is why we were told we laid off 580 workers after the bankruptcy. If the supervisors feel the need to correct some inequities among the employees, let’s consider correcting them after implementing a 20% compensation reduction for management instead of cutting workers.

The public employee troughs have been uncontrollably overflowing way too long. Considering last year’s total compensation of $164,800, Gates already has the highest total compensation in the county.

JAMES H. BRIDGES

Huntington Beach