SHERIFF DESERVES A RESPECTFUL HEARING FROM FELLOW LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS

Thank you for the Dec. 11 Our View, "Odd man out" which addressed the
attempt by U.S. Attorney John Suthers, El Paso County Sheriff John Anderson
and Gov. Bill Owen to marginalize San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters
and his call for a more rational approach to our nation's drug problem.

From 1984 to 1990, I was privileged to serve as deputy district attorney
in charge of prosecution of all criminal cases in Ouray County, San Miguel
County and the west end of Montrose County. During my tenure, I worked
closely with the San Miguel County Sheriff's Office on numerous cases,
including drug cases. I wish to add the following additional support for
The Gazette's editorial position.

Contrary to Suther's assertion, San Miguel County is not some backwater in
the drug war. Telluride was (and probably still is) on a major
drug-smuggling route. I would estimate that the percent of the felony cases
that crossed my desk were drug related. I don't imagine that percentage has
changed since I left.

The San Miguel County Sheriff's Office is an absolutely first-rate
law-enforcement agency, largely due to the efforts of Masters. I would
gauge the training and professionalism of San Miguel County deputies as
high or higher than any other Colorado county, including El Paso County.

Masters is not some ski-town hippie. He is a four-square, straight-
shooting, law-and-order kind of guy. If he tells you something is wrong
with the law, it would pay you to listen.

Listening to Masters is, of course, the last thing Suthers, Owens and
Anderson want you to do hence all the harrumphing, hand-waving and sad
stories about looking "in the eye of a mother whose daughter has died of an
Ecstasy overdose." How come nobody wants to look in the eye of a mother
whose child has been locked up for decades for possessing less than an
ounce of crack?

I don't know if I agree with Masters' thesis as I haven't read his book,
and God knows he and I have disagreed about a lot of things. I do know that
Masters has earned a respectful hearing from his brother law-enforcement
professionals. Owens, Suthers and Anderson do their argument no credit and
themselves no honor by attacking the messenger.

Michael M. Dutcher
Manitou Springs