WHY NO ARRESTS IN POT BUST?

The IJ editorial, "Huge pot farms a disturbing trend" (Sept. 4),
applauds law enforcement officials for the number of plants they cut
down but ignores what is truly the most disturbing element of this
story: the complete incompetence of law enforcement. They may have
"netted 20,000 plants," but they netted zero criminals. Your editorial
opines that "all involved should be commended for uncovering the
operation and seizing the plants," yet seems undisturbed by the fact
that "more than four dozen heavily armed cops and rangers" managed to
interrupt the pot farmers at breakfast but were incapable of capturing
even one of them. Law enforcement seems more intent on parading pot
plants and big street value numbers in front of the media than putting
the criminals behind bars.

Should we be surprised that these criminals were then unafraid to
return to the scene of the crime to scoop up $3 million of marijuana -
1,200 plants - that our officers had so generously harvested and
stacked for them? Should we be surprised if the traffickers increase
their operations in Marin in the future knowing they have nothing to
fear from Marin's keystone cops?

Chris Van Deusen,

San Anselmo