FEDERAL LAW IS INDEED THE CHIEF'S CONCERN

The Sunday letter to the editor by former Police Chief John Montgomery
took exception with Redding Police Chief Peter Hansen's attempt to
educate the owners of marijuana dispensaries in Redding by informing
them of federal drug laws. He told Chief Hansen, "Federal law is not
his concern," and suggested the chief be fired if he cannot uphold
California law first and foremost.

Chief Montgomery, Article 6 of the United States Constitution clearly
establishes federal law as the pre-eminent law of the land. Your
statement that federal law is not Chief Hansen's concern is on its
face absurd. Call the U.S. attorney's office and ask them if Chief
Hansen should consider California law first and foremost, before
federal law. They may suggest that federal laws dealing with civil
rights, terrorism, interstate crimes, etc., should be the concern of
local police chiefs.

For decades, the Redding Police Department has looked beyond state
laws and local ordinances and used every legal resource available to
enhance the quality of life for its citizens. This includes a great
deal more than your suggestion to Chief Hansen that he focus on
responding to calls, enforcing traffic laws and tracking sex
offenders. Working as a team with local, state and federal law
enforcement, partnering with the community and educating the community
has enhanced our quality of life. Chief Montgomery, it is why you
don't see gangs or drug dealers on the corners; but rather, people
walking freely and safely in their neighborhoods. It may be why you
live in Redding and not the city where you were the chief.

I am thankful that Redding has a chief with the courage to confront
the negative impact the marijuana dispensaries are having on our
community, especially our young people. The medicinal marijuana law,
Proposition 215, passed in 1996, is without a doubt one of the
worst-drafted referendums ever passed. Its intent was to be
"compassionate" to a small percentage of the population with serious
pain-related illnesses that conventional medicine can't effectively
treat. Because the law was so poorly written, it has created the
opportunity for widespread abuse and for all practical purposes
legalized marijuana. This law has created the opportunity for a
massive number of young people to "believe in marijuana" and make it
the most important thing in their lives, even above their careers and
livelihoods. This should be a concern of every police chief in California.

Chief Montgomery, what would you have thought of a retired police
chief who moved into your city and called for your dismissal based on
a single incident you undertook to improve your city within the law? I
think we all know the answer to that.