Protest Over Cutting Tree

Never in all my 75 years did I think I would ever sit behind a row of uniformed sheriff’s deputies while they protected my property and my right to exercise a legal permit issued by the city of Ojai to cut down my oak tree that was structurally damaging my building on my property.

Never did I ever think that these same deputies would also have to protect the men working for a legitimate Ventura County business I hired to remove the tree.

But that is exactly what happened in Ojai on June 13.

Facing the deputies was a carefully orchestrated, well-rehearsed gang of extremists who wept, wailed, screamed, insulted, vilified, threatened, taunted, played dead in the street, paraded with inflammatory signs--even called OSHA and the state Board of Contractors to feed them lies and misinformation. In short, [they] did anything to stop the work and delight the dozens of TV and print reporters who swarmed to the scene to which the protesters had invited them.

It was truly an explosive situation that had smoldered for weeks and was ready to ignite.

I wish to publicly thank Sheriff Bob Brooks and laud him for the caliber of women and men who serve in his department.

I particularly wish to thank Sheriff’s Capt. Gary Pentis, who also is chief of police of Ojai, and the women and men who work with him. During all this uproar they remained the ultimate professionals. Calm, cool, collected. Respectful not only of my rights as the owner of private property but also of the protesters’ right to freedom of speech.

Had Capt. Pentis and his personnel not been so remarkably skilled in dealing with emotionally charged, angry protesters on the one hand and an outraged, pushed-to-the-limit property owner on the other, this episode might have ended tragically.

I thank them all.

Polly Bee

Ojai