Thank you for your June 8, 2007 story regarding the boating accident involving Deputy Sheriff Perdock.

As a power boat and sail boat owner, as well as one who has owned property and spent many a summer's day on Clear Lake, I have been following this story for many months. I am so disgusted with the district attorney's failure to file charges against Deputy Sheriff Perdock, and let a jury sort it out, that I no longer have interest in visiting Clear Lake. How can I feel safe in such an environment?

As unfortunate as it is for the folks of Clear Lake, they will likely not be seeing any more of my spending dollars and having discussed this with other boaters, I know I am not alone. Goodbye, Clear Lake, I'll miss you!

John Hassler lives in Novato.

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BG Locke - Mixed emotion Registered | 09-07-2007 09:55:50 Why exactly are you blaming the DA's Office? The Justice Department is now reviewing the investigation at the Sheriff's request. Far too often in this case it's been "100% sailboat support/100% police support and not 50/50. Seems to me that if the man at the helm was the one who was legally responsible for this tragedy the DA would not be prosecuting them. But, I'm not a lawyer so perhaps Mr. Hopkins and everyone else are completely wrong and Deputy Perdock is the one who needs to be charged. I'm hoping the Justice Department investigation will go far in, at the very least, taking away the "cover-up" allegations. Maybe at that point or after the trial, you and others like you will have a change of heart. Do I think Perdock is free from guilt? NO! If it were me it wouldn't matter if I was being "formally charged" I'd never be able to sleep another night without seeing the face of the woman who lost her life. Isn't that guilt or does guilt require a court of law? If the District Attorney's Office is wrong in the charges they've filed then the AG's Office is wrong as well because they validated who should be charged. The unfortunate part of what you have written is you have chosen to hurt the citizens of Lake County and its economy NOT the DA's Office. I'm fairly certain Mr. Hopkins will be in his office this morning and next week and every week after that even though you are leaving. You have every right to do so, bon voyage to you. I can only hope that the next person who decides to do this cares enough about the citizens of Lake County to not publicly announce that they are turning their back on them. Best Wishes To You!

lenny - sorry to see you go but... Registered | 09-07-2007 10:10:05 As so clearly stated by KGO's Dan Noyes, the person being charged in the death is not the power boat driver or the sail boat owner but the man who happened to be steering the sailboat. Of course Dan briefly mentions the fact that this individual was under the influence of alcohol. Dan fails to impress upon the fact that he was legally intoxicated, well above the legal limit. It is he, the driver who made the choice to steer the boat knowingly intoxicated. It is he who should be held accountable for his actions. Yet I hear this individual whining to Dan crying out all the injustice and "good ol boy network" in place! Our District Attorney I believe is right is seeking prosecution. This is the individual who should be held accountable, not the Sheriff or the boat owner. I do however question the boat owners intoxicated judgment and hence liability. Next reality check, I am informed the speed limit for boating on the lake is found in our California boating law. It says, "an operator should be prepared to stop a vessel within the space of half the distance of forward visibility." It hopefully is obvious to anyone the boat was not visible and this Deputy did not slam into for fun! I am very sorry this happened to him. I have a strong dislike for investigative reporters that so obviously exploit and twist truths. I too do not like "good ol boy networks", but I do not see this as an example thereof. But thanks to one slimy reporter it was blown up to be as such. And just a suggestion to the residence residing in the County of Lake, wait until our justice system, our DA does his job before passing judgment. and the above is written by an extreme left wing liberal!!

Donna Christopher - How come Lenny Author | 09-07-2007 11:07:10 we're supposed to wait "before passing judgment." yet you already have citing evidence that has yet to be proved true. If the writer of the article doesn't care to come back, well it's still sort of a free country. Sorry for the redundancy but I was not there. Neither were any of the above authors/bloggers. How about we all shut up, let the system run its course then decide whether we want the two elected officials presiding over the prosecution of this case to remain in their current positions.

Tony - re: Registered | 09-07-2007 12:02:30 [quote=Anonymous][/quote] You answered the question how could the powerboat operator see the sailboat ahead of him. The factual answer is the powerboat operator was traveling at an unsafe speed based on his own statements. He could not see ahead of him in darkness to avoid hitting anything!

calcuby - Blame to go around, but Registered | 09-07-2007 12:15:35 Charging people with crimes when there is so much reasonable doubt is a bad thing. It is not something that should be done so lightly, as it seems to be done over and over again in this county by the current district attorney. It ruins lives and even if the person is found not guilty, they have spent a great deal of time in agony and spent money on lawyers, etc. This is simply not right. Look at the police officers who have been found not guilty - they are all victims of this district attorney. He is throwing his power around and making people into criminals without giving it a second thought. I think he should be recalled. Now.

lornasue - It's the speedboats Registered | 09-09-2007 14:19:39 Maybe its time to realize that until we have the equivalent of an FAA to manage fast moving vehicles in open spaces we should ban speedboats and return the lake to human and wind powered craft. Exceptions would be trolling motors for the handicapped and fast boats for responding emergency vehicles.

Donna Christopher - This Morning Author | 09-09-2007 15:06:53 I completely agree with lornasue. I'm just up the road from Harbor Park. The bass boats blasted off at asscrack o'clock as usual. Unusually annoying this a.m.,must be the heat and residual smoke Any idea if these folks actually pump money into the local economy? Yeah, I've seen them fill up gas tanks but that $$ doesn't stay here. I've never been real keen on what comes out of those boats going into my drinking water and yes I know what the fish do in it To bad we can't legislate common sense - the horrible accident and these subsequent discussions would be moot. Obviously a speed limit is needed, fools need guidelines. I imagine when the rule of don't outrun your running light was made the horsepower of most pleasure boats was not what it is today.

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