Channel Islands Horse Roundup

We witness another appalling public relations disaster for Channel Islands National Park as Supt. Tim Setnicka transforms a horse roundup into a roundup of the usual suspects--those who dare to question his policies.

The abrupt early-morning ejection of all campers from Santa Cruz Island’s Scorpion Ranch in order to remove corralled horses had little to do with public safety. Rather it had everything to do with removing witnesses to the controversial event.

Following on last year’s SWAT team helicopter assault to force the hunting concession off the island, the action established a pattern of cavalier and macho high-handedness. The paramilitary model cannot be tolerated when deployed against law-abiding national park users. This has nothing to do with the horse issue.

As a longtime island visitor, I’m now wary when I go over there. It’s hard not to contrast the relaxed hospitality under the Gherini ownership with the capricious police actions of Mr. Setnicka’s island.

Many park users are calling on the National Park Service to launch an inquiry into the present stewardship of Channel Islands National Park. It may well be time for Mr. Setnicka to go.

DEAN TATUM, Ventura

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Thank you for reporting this latest episode on Santa Cruz Island. Isn’t this the same National Park Service that used a SWAT team against a bunch of legal campers a year or so ago, forcing them out of their sleeping bags to stand in the dark in their underwear? How dare Supt. Tim Setnicka once again remove legal visitors to the island just to avoid being observed or filmed.

This is America, Mr. Setnicka--get used to it. You work for us, remember?

By the way, I suppose they have quietly slaughtered all those wild pigs that have inhabited the island for several hundred years by now too.

JOHN LYON, Agoura