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County sheriff election: Incumbent Livingston, challenger Therriault face off in public safety forum

Candidates lay out opposing stances on oversight, future of policing in spirited debate

The candidates for Contra Costa County sheriff-coroner participate in a public forum on May 3. (Video by Diablo Valley College)

Contra Costa County's incumbent sheriff doubled down on support for an ex-deputy convicted of assault for a fatal on-duty shooting in Danville, calling the charges politically motivated, while his challenger criticized existing sheriff's office policy for contributing to why the encounter turned deadly, as the two candidates squared off at a debate Tuesday.

Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston faces a challenge to his seat for the first time in more than a decade, running in next month's primary election against Benjamin Therriault, president of the Richmond Police Officers' Association.

David Livingston.

The opponents answered questions about the Danville deputy's conviction and a range of other topics during a public safety candidates forum at Diablo Valley College on Tuesday evening that also included a separate debate between district attorney candidates. The event was moderated by DanvilleSanRamon.com publisher Gina Channell Wilcox and editor Jeremy Walsh.

Benjamin Therriault.

"I'm running for sheriff because we are devoid of leadership in this county when it comes to law enforcement," Therriault said in his opening statement. "The sheriff's office should be leading the way, and for far too long, it has been following. I want to change that, I want to reverse that; I want Contra Costa to be the leader of law enforcement in the state of California."

Therriault, a police officer in Richmond and a first-time candidate, has entered the race with a platform aimed at appealing to voters seeking police oversight, reform and change. Livingston has taken a platform that seeks to highlight his work over 11 years in office and rejects what he says are the political motivations behind calls for increased accountability and reform in policing by some county voters amid recent controversies involving deputies.

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Tensions between the two candidates were high at times, with the evening's debate seeing them voice opposing positions in response to questions involving what transparency and accountability should look like in the office, the morale of current employees, and approaches to recruitment and retention.

One particular elephant in the room that was discussed early was the conviction of Andrew Hall, a now-former deputy from Livingston's office who was recently sentenced in the shooting death of 33-year-old Laudemer Arboleda following a slow-speed car chase in Danville in November 2018. Criminal charges were filed against Hall by the DA's office after 2-1/2 years -- and only after Hall, who was cleared to return to duty by Livingston, fatally shot another man, Tyrell Wilson, on-duty in Danville in March 2021.

Livingston, who has run unopposed since he took office 2011, has come under fire for remarks in a leaked internal letter saying that Hall's sentencing marked "a sad day" and voicing support for the former deputy who was transferred to a state prison for his six-year sentence last month.

On Tuesday, the sheriff doubled down on his support for Hall, and made an effort to provide further context to his position.

"I think the criminal charges were absolutely political," Livingston said. "She (District Attorney Diana Becton) placed it on her Facebook ad, arms crossed 'I charged a police officer' -- it's reprehensible in my opinion. The first officer charged in Contra Costa County."

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"This isn't him kneeling on someone's neck for nine minutes -- the horrible case we're all familiar with. This was a split-second decision," Livingston continued. "That's why I've said what I've said about that. I'm a leader of the agency and I support his actions if he behaves honorably, he acts within policy and he obeys the law, and I believe he did all those things."

Therriault contended that Hall's conviction and Arboleda's death could have been prevented by different policies in the sheriff's office, which Livingston found Hall acted within according to his office's internal investigation into the shooting.

"Experience would have led you to have better policies that would not have put Officer Hall in that predicament in the first place," Therriault said. "It's the policies that come from the top and transcend down to the bottom to the deputies who actually have to do the work. And when they have to go out and do the work, they follow the policies and procedures of the agency. And if things had been done differently, perhaps that incident never would have happened, and it shouldn't have happened."

In a rebuttal, Livingston contended that Therriault's remarks about Hall were inappropriate coming from a fellow law enforcement officer.

"That's ridiculous, and it's unfortunate that a fellow officer would question the actions of another police officer," Livingston said.

The two candidates also butted heads when asked what transparency, accountability and oversight should look like in the sheriff's office, with Livingston saying he supported existing forms of oversight, but that he was not interested in an appointed body established for that purpose nor did he think the Board of Supervisors would be.

"As far as being transparent and oversight, we already have oversight from the Bureau of Prisons, from the attorney general, from the civil grand jury, and the sheriff as set out in the Constitution is directly responsible to the voters," Livingston said. "So I am leery of having a group come in that would then say, 'These are the priorities that the sheriff's office should be pursuing'."

A question about property crime prevention amidst high-profile incidents such as a mass robbery at Nordstrom's in Walnut Creek, and ongoing catalytic converter thefts throughout the Tri-Valley, also sparked a contentious discussion.

"We are aggressively investigating these cases, and when we had for example the situation in Walnut Creek, I immediately called the chief, and I work very well with all the chiefs throughout the county, and I said I want to offer my services at no cost to increase patrol, to have greater vis, to hopefully make shoppers in that area…comfortable, but also to be a deterrent…" Livingston said.

Livingston also called for a "partner in the DA's office that will charge these cases," alleging that this has not been the case under Becton.

Therriault agreed that "organized retail theft is a serious problem," and said that the community was clearly calling out for solutions. However, he argued that data and crime trend analysis were powerful tools for prevention that he said Livingston hadn't fully taken advantage of, and pointed to the loss of crime analysis professionals in the current office.

"Every working cop in the Bay Area was watching how in different … high end commercial districts, there were these organized retail thefts," Therriault said. "It should come as no surprise that it was going to come eventually to Contra Costa County, and sure enough it did. The Sheriff did something about it after, which is great, but I think we probably should have had some people in place beforehand."

One area on which the candidates shared common ground was committing to a tough stance on gun violence, including the rise of Polymer 80 "ghost guns" that can go unregistered and untraced -- except for Therriault's support of the program Operation Ceasefire as an example for prevention, which Livingston called "Richmond's idea of paying people not to kill each other."

"When you talk about violent crime with a firearm, we're going to make arrests in Contra Costa County," Livingston said. "We're not going to hold their hand, give them a paycheck, say please don't shoot somebody," Livingston said.

Therriault did push back at the sheriff's characterization of the Richmond program.

Although topics of discussion ranged from approaches to gun violence, mental health and property crime, Hall's recent felony conviction -- and Livingston's ongoing and vocal support of the deputy -- came up in several of Livingston's responses, including one on employee morale.

"Now I was criticized for saying I have someone's back in an internal memo," Livingston said. "But if you took the time ... what it actually said, if you read it, was that if you obey the law and you follow policy, follow procedure. Not just I've got your back generally. There's much more to that memo. And I think people appreciated having a leader that doesn't just throw people under the bus but stands behind their people, and I do that."

"However, if they are out of line, if they've committed an offense, they will be held accountable," Livingston added, before he paused briefly to address a woman in the audience whom he said was shaking her head at him. The audience of several-dozen onlookers were seated in the round with the candidates and moderators at a small table in the center.

Therriault contended that Livingston's response to Hall's conviction and sentencing, rather than boosting employee morale or aiding in retention and recruitment, were emblematic of an office that is "out of touch," and "not where society wants to be."

"The criminal justice system has made many changes and we continue to make changes and improvements," Therriault said. "But in order to do that, we need someone who actually wants to lead, and wants to embrace that cutting edge and embrace being part of the future and not the past."

The forum was sponsored by the San Ramon, Danville Area, Brentwood, Walnut Creek, Lafayette and Concord chambers of commerce, as well as DVC. The two candidates will continue their campaigns in the coming weeks, ahead of the upcoming June 6 primary election.

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Jeanita Lyman
Jeanita Lyman joined the Pleasanton Weekly in September 2020 and covers the Danville and San Ramon beat. She studied journalism at Skyline College and Mills College while covering the Peninsula for the San Mateo Daily Journal, after moving back to the area in 2013. Read more >>

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County sheriff election: Incumbent Livingston, challenger Therriault face off in public safety forum

Candidates lay out opposing stances on oversight, future of policing in spirited debate

by / Danville San Ramon

Uploaded: Thu, May 5, 2022, 11:52 pm

Contra Costa County's incumbent sheriff doubled down on support for an ex-deputy convicted of assault for a fatal on-duty shooting in Danville, calling the charges politically motivated, while his challenger criticized existing sheriff's office policy for contributing to why the encounter turned deadly, as the two candidates squared off at a debate Tuesday.

Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston faces a challenge to his seat for the first time in more than a decade, running in next month's primary election against Benjamin Therriault, president of the Richmond Police Officers' Association.

The opponents answered questions about the Danville deputy's conviction and a range of other topics during a public safety candidates forum at Diablo Valley College on Tuesday evening that also included a separate debate between district attorney candidates. The event was moderated by DanvilleSanRamon.com publisher Gina Channell Wilcox and editor Jeremy Walsh.

"I'm running for sheriff because we are devoid of leadership in this county when it comes to law enforcement," Therriault said in his opening statement. "The sheriff's office should be leading the way, and for far too long, it has been following. I want to change that, I want to reverse that; I want Contra Costa to be the leader of law enforcement in the state of California."

Therriault, a police officer in Richmond and a first-time candidate, has entered the race with a platform aimed at appealing to voters seeking police oversight, reform and change. Livingston has taken a platform that seeks to highlight his work over 11 years in office and rejects what he says are the political motivations behind calls for increased accountability and reform in policing by some county voters amid recent controversies involving deputies.

Tensions between the two candidates were high at times, with the evening's debate seeing them voice opposing positions in response to questions involving what transparency and accountability should look like in the office, the morale of current employees, and approaches to recruitment and retention.

One particular elephant in the room that was discussed early was the conviction of Andrew Hall, a now-former deputy from Livingston's office who was recently sentenced in the shooting death of 33-year-old Laudemer Arboleda following a slow-speed car chase in Danville in November 2018. Criminal charges were filed against Hall by the DA's office after 2-1/2 years -- and only after Hall, who was cleared to return to duty by Livingston, fatally shot another man, Tyrell Wilson, on-duty in Danville in March 2021.

Livingston, who has run unopposed since he took office 2011, has come under fire for remarks in a leaked internal letter saying that Hall's sentencing marked "a sad day" and voicing support for the former deputy who was transferred to a state prison for his six-year sentence last month.

On Tuesday, the sheriff doubled down on his support for Hall, and made an effort to provide further context to his position.

"I think the criminal charges were absolutely political," Livingston said. "She (District Attorney Diana Becton) placed it on her Facebook ad, arms crossed 'I charged a police officer' -- it's reprehensible in my opinion. The first officer charged in Contra Costa County."

"This isn't him kneeling on someone's neck for nine minutes -- the horrible case we're all familiar with. This was a split-second decision," Livingston continued. "That's why I've said what I've said about that. I'm a leader of the agency and I support his actions if he behaves honorably, he acts within policy and he obeys the law, and I believe he did all those things."

Therriault contended that Hall's conviction and Arboleda's death could have been prevented by different policies in the sheriff's office, which Livingston found Hall acted within according to his office's internal investigation into the shooting.

"Experience would have led you to have better policies that would not have put Officer Hall in that predicament in the first place," Therriault said. "It's the policies that come from the top and transcend down to the bottom to the deputies who actually have to do the work. And when they have to go out and do the work, they follow the policies and procedures of the agency. And if things had been done differently, perhaps that incident never would have happened, and it shouldn't have happened."

In a rebuttal, Livingston contended that Therriault's remarks about Hall were inappropriate coming from a fellow law enforcement officer.

"That's ridiculous, and it's unfortunate that a fellow officer would question the actions of another police officer," Livingston said.

The two candidates also butted heads when asked what transparency, accountability and oversight should look like in the sheriff's office, with Livingston saying he supported existing forms of oversight, but that he was not interested in an appointed body established for that purpose nor did he think the Board of Supervisors would be.

"As far as being transparent and oversight, we already have oversight from the Bureau of Prisons, from the attorney general, from the civil grand jury, and the sheriff as set out in the Constitution is directly responsible to the voters," Livingston said. "So I am leery of having a group come in that would then say, 'These are the priorities that the sheriff's office should be pursuing'."

A question about property crime prevention amidst high-profile incidents such as a mass robbery at Nordstrom's in Walnut Creek, and ongoing catalytic converter thefts throughout the Tri-Valley, also sparked a contentious discussion.

"We are aggressively investigating these cases, and when we had for example the situation in Walnut Creek, I immediately called the chief, and I work very well with all the chiefs throughout the county, and I said I want to offer my services at no cost to increase patrol, to have greater vis, to hopefully make shoppers in that area…comfortable, but also to be a deterrent…" Livingston said.

Livingston also called for a "partner in the DA's office that will charge these cases," alleging that this has not been the case under Becton.

Therriault agreed that "organized retail theft is a serious problem," and said that the community was clearly calling out for solutions. However, he argued that data and crime trend analysis were powerful tools for prevention that he said Livingston hadn't fully taken advantage of, and pointed to the loss of crime analysis professionals in the current office.

"Every working cop in the Bay Area was watching how in different … high end commercial districts, there were these organized retail thefts," Therriault said. "It should come as no surprise that it was going to come eventually to Contra Costa County, and sure enough it did. The Sheriff did something about it after, which is great, but I think we probably should have had some people in place beforehand."

One area on which the candidates shared common ground was committing to a tough stance on gun violence, including the rise of Polymer 80 "ghost guns" that can go unregistered and untraced -- except for Therriault's support of the program Operation Ceasefire as an example for prevention, which Livingston called "Richmond's idea of paying people not to kill each other."

"When you talk about violent crime with a firearm, we're going to make arrests in Contra Costa County," Livingston said. "We're not going to hold their hand, give them a paycheck, say please don't shoot somebody," Livingston said.

Therriault did push back at the sheriff's characterization of the Richmond program.

Although topics of discussion ranged from approaches to gun violence, mental health and property crime, Hall's recent felony conviction -- and Livingston's ongoing and vocal support of the deputy -- came up in several of Livingston's responses, including one on employee morale.

"Now I was criticized for saying I have someone's back in an internal memo," Livingston said. "But if you took the time ... what it actually said, if you read it, was that if you obey the law and you follow policy, follow procedure. Not just I've got your back generally. There's much more to that memo. And I think people appreciated having a leader that doesn't just throw people under the bus but stands behind their people, and I do that."

"However, if they are out of line, if they've committed an offense, they will be held accountable," Livingston added, before he paused briefly to address a woman in the audience whom he said was shaking her head at him. The audience of several-dozen onlookers were seated in the round with the candidates and moderators at a small table in the center.

Therriault contended that Livingston's response to Hall's conviction and sentencing, rather than boosting employee morale or aiding in retention and recruitment, were emblematic of an office that is "out of touch," and "not where society wants to be."

"The criminal justice system has made many changes and we continue to make changes and improvements," Therriault said. "But in order to do that, we need someone who actually wants to lead, and wants to embrace that cutting edge and embrace being part of the future and not the past."

The forum was sponsored by the San Ramon, Danville Area, Brentwood, Walnut Creek, Lafayette and Concord chambers of commerce, as well as DVC. The two candidates will continue their campaigns in the coming weeks, ahead of the upcoming June 6 primary election.

Comments

D
Registered user
Danville
on May 6, 2022 at 6:18 am
D, Danville
Registered user
on May 6, 2022 at 6:18 am

Sheriff Livingston is endorsed by the Mayor of Danville, and all of the Danville Town Council members, along with County Supervisor Candace Andersen, asthey realize that in order to keep Danville a safe community they need his decades of experience and commitment to serving and protecting the law abiding members of our community. His opponent, a union activist from Richmond, is running on an anti-law enforcement, and pro-criminal platform, and his election would result in a huge increase in crime in our town. This is a very important election, and if you support law and order, and rights of crime victims, and not the criminals, please re-elect Sheriff Livingston.


Parent and Voter
Registered user
Danville
on May 6, 2022 at 7:44 am
Parent and Voter, Danville
Registered user
on May 6, 2022 at 7:44 am

This event was moderated by DanvilleSanRamon and reported by the same...
I have found them to be a suspect source of news. Too often they let their personal opinions filter the stories.
We do not need more woke candidates like the challenger. We have seen how that has worked out for our State.
I will be voting for Sheriff Livingstone and supporting our Police Department that has an incredibly tough job.


Malcolm Hex
Registered user
San Ramon
on May 6, 2022 at 10:11 am
Malcolm Hex, San Ramon
Registered user
on May 6, 2022 at 10:11 am

Here’s what ponytail said:

"Experience would have led you to have better policies that would not have put Officer Hall in that predicament in the first place.”

What are you talking about ponytail? Sheriff Livingston said Officer Hall acted within department policy. That being the case, why aren’t you pointing the finger at DA Benton for making this case political? You just tipped your hat in favor of progressive DA’s. Feel that way about Gascon and Boudin too?

Most presidents of Police Officer Associations are humble and do a great service for their members. However, there are others who feel engrossed with power, ego, etc., and Ponytail certainly appears to be one of them. He’s got political gains to make.

Vote for Sheriff Livingston!!!


Jennifer
Registered user
Danville
on May 6, 2022 at 8:58 pm
Jennifer, Danville
Registered user
on May 6, 2022 at 8:58 pm

I'm voting for Livingston and hopefully we vote Becton out. We need tough on crime in every position.


Charles Morris
Registered user
another community
on May 10, 2022 at 9:51 am
Charles Morris, another community
Registered user
on May 10, 2022 at 9:51 am

The debate between Sheriff Livingston and Benjamin Therriault was interesting, but the moment I heard the sheriff invoke 'woke' I was put off and a later attack on Democrats further convinced me that we do not need a politicized sheriff's office. Therriault's call for beefing up a crime analysis capabilities within the office resonated with me. As a retired FBI intelligence analyst, I too saw the need for an intelligence-based approach to combating the catalytic converter and retail theft issues. I do not believe we are proactively addressing these issues, and that a robust countywide approach is necessary. In Contra Costa County, the sheriff's office ought to be our lead agency.


M Goldstein
Registered user
Walnut Creek
on May 16, 2022 at 11:11 am
M Goldstein, Walnut Creek
Registered user
on May 16, 2022 at 11:11 am

Previous comments on sheriff’s election imply Ben Therriault is “left leaning, soft on crime”. Then will someone explain the following: In the face of rising violent crime, Sheriff Livingston denies law abiding residents their 2nd Amendment rights, by refusing to issue most applicants concealed weapons permits. Conversely, his opponent, Ben Therriault, has adopted a Tough on Crime position, stating his intention to issue such permits to any applicant who passes a background check and training. So, whose the REAL, Woke, Leftist, Soft on Crime candidate? VOTE BEN THERRIAULT


Felix Hunziker
Registered user
another community
on May 16, 2022 at 10:21 pm
Felix Hunziker , another community
Registered user
on May 16, 2022 at 10:21 pm

Good article on a recent Sheriff's debate which leaves no question that Ben Therriault is by far the superior candidate. Therriault is clearly forward thinking while Livingston is living in the Stone Age. He doesn't understand or respect the tools and approach which have helped Richmond and other cities reduce gun violence. At 47:03 in the included video Livingston browbeats someone for simply shaking their head. Talk about a fragile ego.


Malcolm Hex
Registered user
San Ramon
on May 16, 2022 at 11:41 pm
Malcolm Hex, San Ramon
Registered user
on May 16, 2022 at 11:41 pm

A CCW permit should not be given out like free cookies, Goldstein. Also, explain yourself in regard to the comment you made where Sheriff Livingston denies law abiding citizens their second amendment rights. Wow, I had no idea the Sheriff had that much power over the second amendment! Furthermore, has Sheriff Livingston denied you a permit to carry a concealed weapon? Did you even apply for one? A lot of people are denied CCW permits for good reason.

Maybe you should contact your boy up there in Sacramento and plead with Gavin and his bunch to support a law so that everyone in this state can carry a concealed weapon. It ain’t all up to the Sheriff, buddy. And by the way, you might want to go back and watch the last video. Therriault said that people can by ghost guns from firearm expos here in California. That, my friend is not true. Ghost guns are illegal in California, period. However, when a ghost gun receives a serial number, it is no longer a ghost gun; it becomes a registered firearm. You would think somebody like Therriault would know that. But then again, Therriault‘s lack of experience comes through, once again.

Moreover, Therriault has absolutely no administrative experience. And from what I understand, Therriault is not even a sergeant; which of course means he has no supervisor experience. You really need to pay attention to see where he is coming from. He’s a president of a public sector union. He’s full of pride and ego, and has nothing on Sheriff Livingston in terms of experience. Sure, you could argue the point that the Sheriff has pride too. But Sheriff Livingston’s pride appears to be more about his department, than himself.

VOTE SHERIFF LIVINGSTON!


Felix Hunziker
Registered user
another community
on May 17, 2022 at 7:35 am
Felix Hunziker , another community
Registered user
on May 17, 2022 at 7:35 am

Max Hex, it’s common knowledge that CCW under Livingston is pay-to-play. To him our 2A rights are irrelevant, if you’re not rich & powerful, or a member of his “Sheriff’s posse”, you’re not getting a CCW unless you can prove truly exigent circumstances. Therriault would not “hand them out like free candy”, he believes we all have the right to a CCW but will make sure you’re competent and not crazy before issuing one.

Therriault’s comment about ghost guns is 100% accurate. Anyone can buy 80% kits online or at gun shows without a background check. The problem is that many of those kits are being fabricated and fed directly into criminal networks rather than being serialized and registered per State law.

Last, it’s Livingston’s pride which has made him resist advances in 21st century policing, to the detriment of us all. It’s time for a change to a smarter, responsive policing model at the Sheriff’s office and Therriault has the skills and experience to succeed.


M Goldstein
Registered user
Walnut Creek
on May 17, 2022 at 10:22 am
M Goldstein, Walnut Creek
Registered user
on May 17, 2022 at 10:22 am

Re: Malcolm Hex response to my post:
(removed)
Where is my post have I, in any way, implied CCW permits “should be given away like free cookies”?
FACT: They should be granted only after qualified applicants have passed background checks and firearms training, as is the policy of most sheriffs.
FACT: Sheriff Livingston does NOT follow this policy. He does, in fact, deny citizens their 2nd Amd. rights by requiring applicants to demonstrate “Special Need” before granting applicants their “Right to (Bear) Arms”.
Suggestion to Malcolm: Work on your reading skills. Start with the U.S. Constitution.


Malcolm Hex
Registered user
San Ramon
on May 19, 2022 at 11:00 pm
Malcolm Hex, San Ramon
Registered user
on May 19, 2022 at 11:00 pm

@ M Goldstein

Love to debate you, but Danville / San Ramon is apparently censoring everything, as you noticed in your last post regarding a comment I made.

Most likely, this post will not make it to print. Socialism has apparently taken hold here too.


Malcolm Hex
Registered user
San Ramon
on May 21, 2022 at 12:05 am
Malcolm Hex, San Ramon
Registered user
on May 21, 2022 at 12:05 am

(Removed)
First, I did not imply, or state that you said CCW permits should be given out like free cookies. I said a CCW should not be given out like free cookies. I was speaking from my perspective, not yours.

On to the debate…

Mr. Goldstein, you stated the following: “They (CCW permits) should be granted only after qualified applicants have passed background checks and firearms training, as is the policy of most sheriffs.” Wrong. You have to show cause.

Assembly Bill No. 2103 specifically states the following:

1. You are of good moral character;

2. Good cause exists for issuance of the license because you or a member of your family is in immediate danger;

3. You meet certain residency requirements; and

4. You have completed an acceptable course of firearms training.

Immediate danger has to exist as part of the other qualifications. And that is why Sheriff Livingston cannot simply issue a CCW to everyone who wants one. By the way, when you said that Sheriff Livingston does not follow the policy of most Sheriff’s (presumably in California) what policy are you referring to? Notwithstanding, California State law reigns supreme.



Malcolm Hex
Registered user
San Ramon
on Jun 8, 2022 at 1:21 am
Malcolm Hex, San Ramon
Registered user
on Jun 8, 2022 at 1:21 am

Congratulations Sheriff Livingston!!! Oh, and congratulations to Chesa Boudin, for making a fool of yourself.


Jeff Husted
Registered user
San Ramon
on Jun 14, 2022 at 10:07 am
Jeff Husted, San Ramon
Registered user
on Jun 14, 2022 at 10:07 am

Justifying wrongful police shootings is not what a sheriff should be expounding and DA Bection chose the right course in prosecuting a chronic trigger-happy law enforcement officer.

The Danville shooting (as shown on video) could have easily been prevented as the deputy's life was not in any immediate danger. Even the person who captured the incident on his cellphone camera was aghast.

It is time for Contra Costa County to evolve past its reputation as a reactionary locale that praises and endorses wrongful police actions while criticizing a highly qualified DA purely on the basis of her race and progressive ideology.


Judy Thames
Registered user
Walnut Creek
on Jun 14, 2022 at 11:04 am
Judy Thames, Walnut Creek
Registered user
on Jun 14, 2022 at 11:04 am

Kudos to DA Becton for getting a rogue law enforcement representative off the streets and shame to Sheriff Livingstone for endorsing the wrongful murder of a mentally ill and unarmed individual.


Jerry Montrose
Registered user
another community
on Jun 14, 2022 at 11:17 am
Jerry Montrose, another community
Registered user
on Jun 14, 2022 at 11:17 am

"...shame to Sheriff Livingstone [sic] for endorsing the wrongful murder of a mentally ill and unarmed individual."

^ Nothing to gain here by issuing such a callous response other than to appease those who endorse questionable police shootings with no accountability.

Diana Becton took the high road by prosecuting a law enforcement officer who apparently lacked the temperament, restraint, and good judgement to be a deputy.


Sally Ridge
Registered user
Danville
on Jun 14, 2022 at 11:54 am
Sally Ridge, Danville
Registered user
on Jun 14, 2022 at 11:54 am

Endorsing the wrongful police murder of a mentally ill transient posing no imminent danger to either the deputy or the residents of Danville is cause for concern.

Though we are far outnumbered by a county-wide far right-wing & reactionary constituancy, there are still some here who still stand for common decency and restraint on the part of our public safety officers.

A civilized society is not one that shoots first & asks questions later.


Devonne Chandler
Registered user
another community
on Jun 14, 2022 at 12:48 pm
Devonne Chandler, another community
Registered user
on Jun 14, 2022 at 12:48 pm

Do the majority of Danville residents including it's Town Hall members actually approve of and condone wrongful police killings?

If so, it's no wonder they voted for Sheriff Livingston.


Jeff Husted
Registered user
San Ramon
on Jun 18, 2022 at 2:41 pm
Jeff Husted, San Ramon
Registered user
on Jun 18, 2022 at 2:41 pm

"Endorsing the wrongful police murder of a mentally ill transient posing no imminent danger to either the deputy or the residents of Danville is cause for concern."

"Diana Becton took the high road by prosecuting a law enforcement officer who apparently lacked the temperament, restraint, and good judgement to be a deputy."

^ That's it in a nutshell.


Jeff Husted
Registered user
San Ramon
on Jun 18, 2022 at 2:41 pm
Jeff Husted, San Ramon
Registered user
on Jun 18, 2022 at 2:41 pm

"Endorsing the wrongful police murder of a mentally ill transient posing no imminent danger to either the deputy or the residents of Danville is cause for concern."

"Diana Becton took the high road by prosecuting a law enforcement officer who apparently lacked the temperament, restraint, and good judgement to be a deputy."

^ That's it in a nutshell.


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