To the Editor:

God bless the BME — with a brick! Titillating headline: “GCSO investigates its own special deputy for shooting dog.” First sentence in the article “… investigated an incident …” I’m sure GCSO investigates all incidents reported to them. It’s their job. And we know all incidents reported are not run on the front page. Rather than another in a series of articles about the real problem (i.e., dogs running at large, attacking other dogs, biting people). No, BME uses this as another attempt to cast aspersions on the Sheriff’s Office. The headline should have been “2 pit bulls attack woman walking her dog.” Judy Kerr was not acting in any capacity she may have as a special deputy. She was a citizen walking down the street at 6 a.m. in Canyon City. If she had been Jane Q. Citizen, this would have been played out entirely differently in the BME. As for D.A. Jim Carpenter’s comments, I don’t think he ran down to the BME to offer them. Pretty obvious a reporter went to him and specifically asked about any “bias.” Ethically, he should have responded “no comment,” as it’s an ongoing investigation. In reality it’s just another incident in the grand witch hunt. Easy to see through for anyone with a half or less a functioning brain. While we’re on the subject (somewhat), 25 years ago I moved to Grant County from the valley. The number of pit bulls rises fairly proportionately with the increase in drug traffic. Don’t believe it? Call Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. My husband and I see pit bulls running at large every single time we go to John Day. And before you responsible pit bull owners get your knickers in a knot, I love pit bulls. I spent years rescuing and rehabbing them, trying to educate the public about them. They are all about what is best in a terrier. When the breeding is good, when they are socialized, not abused. But they can be, and sad to say often are, a lethal dog, What if Judy had been walking along with a 5-year-old child? Would the headlines have been different? Assuredly so.

Patti Yellow Hand Bull

Monument

Editor’s note: The headline would have been the same if the sheriff’s office investigated its own deputy-involved shooting.