Gallegos is least-competent DA

Gallegos is least-competent DA
by Douglas Pool, 5/6/2006

I saw a letter in the paper that called Worth Dikeman an angry old man in the sunset of his career.

Winston Churchill was 66 years old when he took office in 1940. It was a good thing for the world that the British were not so prejudiced against someone of his age and experience. I know and respect Worth Dikeman and will tell you that he is measured, thoughtful and a competent attorney.

I have worked for the Sheriff’s Office going on 30 years in many different capacities: field-training officer on patrol, teaching the DARE program in 16 different elementary schools and most recently as a bailiff in the court.

I have seen many district attorneys come and go, but I believe, by far, the least competent is our current DA. He has single-handedly dismantled what was a pretty good DA’s Office. I think it is likely that the remaining few seasoned prosecutors will leave if Mr. Gallegos is returned to office.

It is a shame that this “non-partisan” position is really a new showcase for polarizing politics without regard for what is good for the citizens of Humboldt County. I have worked with the local deputy DAs and watch them slog on without guidance and direction from the top. They do the best they can, but daily I hear defense attorneys joking about how easy it is for them to get favorable decisions because of the lack of experience in this DA’s Office. It seems that this DA will make a deal on just about any case to get a conviction on his record.

If we were to believe him, our crime is down, even though through our own experience, we all know it has gotten worse. Mr. Gallegos can give all the no-win cases he wants to Mr. Dikeman and still there will not be a criminal attorney in the county who does not know, in his or her heart, that Mr. Dikeman is not only the best criminal attorney of the two, but also that he is the best man for the job.

How strange that some people are saying that the DA should not have a good relationship with law enforcement when he or she is called the “chief law enforcement official in the county.”

Well Mr. Gallegos certainly does not have the respect or support of law enforcement. I will be saddened, but not surprised if he is given four more years to destroy this DA’s Office, where he can continue to follow his political agenda at the expense of the safety of our citizens. If he is elected again, we will certainly get what we deserve.

(Douglas W. Pool is a Eureka resident.)

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