During his own election campaign Sheriff Frank Rivero repeatedly described himself as a victim of the former sheriff’s oppression and refusal to abide by the “Peace Officers Bill of Rights.”

He promised to end intimidation and practices that would result in unnecessary civil suits against the county.

He promised such blatant and oppressive violations of “POBR” would never occur on his watch and he would create a fair and pleasant working environment for all sheriffs’ employees.

Now we see just one more of a number of law suits specifically naming him by county employees. He is quick to pass the buck and blame everyone else while accusing others of being liars but slow to clean up his act or assume responsibility for mistakes even those, which may have been well meaning at the time.

He has clearly demonstrated a lack of experience, leadership and basic fair management practices. It’s clear now that he is doing exactly what he accused his predecessor of doing during the campaign. Morale, job satisfaction and security is at an all-time low and the many promises and political commitments made have proven to be false.

This harsh dictatorial attitude by our sheriff has caused a number of our employees to leave their jobs and seek employment elsewhere.

Please make no mistake – these are not “bad apples” or sniveling malcontents who failed to measure up, who have been rooted out by a sheriff crusading to clean up a mess made by prior regimes. These are good people dedicated to serving our community who have found working under such a dictatorial, know-it-all, pseudo-professional administration intolerable. This is a loss to our community.

I join a growing number of voting, tax-paying Lake County citizens who are disappointed in this sheriff’s vindictive attitude and total disregard for fair practice.

I, for one, can acknowledge my own mistake in supporting a man who has proven to be a hypocrite without honor or integrity. This is not the professional leadership I had hoped to see in that organization.

I believe in giving the man a fair opportunity to do what he has promised and I encouraged others to do the same. That time has come and gone and I see things to be far worse then ever before.

Jack Baxter ran for Lake County sheriff in 2010. He lives in Lakeport.