Thousands of Fresno County residents opened their mailboxes to find a flyer ... a message paid for by the Fresno County Deputy Sheriff's Association.
FDSA President Eric Schmidt said, "We're basically trying to educate them and let them know that the mayor is actively coming after you or says she is and we don't want to stand idle and let that happen."
Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer says he found the flyer disturbing and full of inaccuracies. He said, "I cannot believe this flyer was sent out because it really does nothing but create fear in many members of the community members and the second thing is the numbers are misleading and they are untrue."
The mailers were sent to registered voters in Sunnyside, Mayfair, Tarpey Village and Fig Garden. The Deputy Sheriffs Association says it stands by the flyer and its claims.
"This is business, this isn't personal. I don't want this to get to whose better type of thing. I want to know why the mayor is so pursuant on these county islands," said Schmidt.
Chief Dyer says he knows where dozens of sex offenders who are unaccounted for are-- in the Fresno County Jail. He believes the flyer accomplished only one thing. He said, "The simple fact is this has done nothing more but create tension between our agency and their agency."
Mayor Ashley Swearengin refused to respond on camera, a spokesman for the mayor's office told Action News, "The mayor is only trying to have a discussion about the most efficient use of resources."
The Fresno County Deputy Sheriff's Association says 60 deputies patrol the county islands in question and they would lose their jobs if the city takes over police enforcement.
MORE LOCAL NEWS |
TWEET@ABC30 |
FREE ABC30 WIDGET
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sign up for Breaking News Alerts
Breaking News E-Mail
Alerts |
Text Message
Alerts
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More News on abc30.com
California/State |
National/World |
Weather |
Entertainment |
Business |
Politics |
Sports |
Health Watch |
Consumer Watch |
Mr. Food |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
