This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.
Sheriff’s record overlooked
I have been following the S-R coverage of the two recent deputy-involved shootings. I live in the county area, and if I have a police-type emergency and dial 911, it will be sheriff’s deputies who respond.
I wish to offer my condolences to the Creach family. Regardless of fault or blame, the loss of a loved one is always a very sad occasion. However, I believe that the S-R coverage has been unbalanced in the reporting of the initial incidents and subsequent investigations. One would think that sheriff’s deputies are poorly trained, quick to shoot and then “protected” from rigorous investigation after an incident.
Ozzie Knezovich will be our sheriff for the next four years. I’d like to see some stories on how he has kept his prior campaign promises to create agency transparency, keep his deputies highly trained and taken punitive action when those in his agency fail to meet the high standards he has set. They would not be spectacular stories, but the S-R would be meeting its professional journalistic duty to inform county residents truly what to expect from the armed deputies who arrive to protect them when they dial 911.
Patrick M. Reeves
Cheney