Re “Why Voters Aren’t the Best Judge...

Re “Why Voters Aren’t the Best Judge of Sheriffs,” Opinion, March 8: Although the points Joseph McNamara presents regarding the Sheriff’s Department’s performance during Sherman Block’s tenure are not completely accurate, the most disturbing aspect of his opinion is his contention that the people who elect their sheriff are incapable of the task.

McNamara suggests our county supervisors should select a sheriff much the same way Los Angeles selects its police chief. Would the citizens of Los Angeles have directly elected Willie Williams? It’s doubtful. As citizens of California, we should be wary of any attempt to take the power of electing the chief law enforcement officer of our counties away from us. A few of the intellectual elite may feel we are not smart enough and some local politicians may yearn for the additional power control over a sheriff may bring them, but do we want to dilute our control over who polices all of us?

DAN RINDGE

Lancaster

* The elected county sheriff is the only local officer who speaks for the people solely on issues relating to law enforcement and public safety. Appointed police chiefs are too often stifled by politics and the personal political agendas of others. Political manipulation of police chiefs and police departments by elected officials has, in the past, created breeding grounds for institutional police corruption in many cities across the country.

If boards of supervisors do not provide oversight of the sheriff as McNamara asserts, it is not because they fear the sheriff’s political power, but rather because they must respect the balance of power intelligently written into our state Constitution and various county charters.

McNamara argues in favor of a search process. Appointment following a national search is no guarantee of success, as many cities have learned. Outsiders seldom have the feel of the community, a sense of allegiance to its people, or an understanding of common problems. Sheriffs elected directly by the people share a bond with those served--a bond of understanding and personal accountability.

SHERIFF BILL KOLENDER

San Diego County