Re "Deputy enters plea in steroids case," Nov. 30: While these
deputies should be allowed to complete a substance-abuse program, they
should no longer work as deputies.

What these men did was illegal. To allow them back into service would
send the message out that it's OK for some to use controlled
substances and syringes, but others will be punished.

It's bad enough that sworn officers would break the law with the
illegal use of steroids, but the use of hypodermic syringes
constitutes a health risk to the officers, their families and officers
and people they may come in contact with.

John R. Marshall,
Citrus Heights