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As district attorney, Bonnie Dumanis has been a letdown for law enforcement.
Consider this: In 2010, Dumanis ran for re-election as district attorney and did so unopposed. Even then, she didn’t receive support from an overwhelming majority of the region’s law enforcement assocations.
What I’m hearing from members of the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association and our law enforcement partners is a clear sense of disappointment in the way Dumanis interacts with all of us.
Many officers complain she hasn’t adequately prepared them before they testified at trial, and that she regularly neglects to provide officers with feedback afterward. Officers were left not knowing the outcomes of trials in which they acted as witnesses.
Most prominently, she has not consistently prosecuted assaults and other crimes against police officers — until her opponent raised it as an issue, that is.
Simply put, Dumanis has not been the partner we hoped for in the district attorney’s office. After her 12-year reign, it’s time for a change.
Bob Brewer is the person to bring it.
Every facet of Brewer’s career thus far has prepared him for the job of district attorney. He understands the challenges that police officers face on a daily basis. He recognizes how dangerous the job can be, and he’ll ensure those who commit crimes against officers are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. He’s promised to maintain an open line of communication with our departments and agencies throughout the county.
Challenges in law enforcement continue to mount. Chief among them is the policy of realignment, which has led to the early release of hundreds of convicted felons within San Diego County. Law enforcement is pulling out all the stops to make sure they don’t jeopardize public safety.
Unlike Dumanis, Brewer was an outspoken early opponent against realignment. It’s safe to assume he’ll do everything in his power to help reduce the impact of this policy on our community.
His willingness to stand against realignment shows he’ll be vocal on local, state and federal public safety issues that affect all residents. That means working collaboratively with the U.S. attorney’s office and all of the local police chiefs.
Through extensive outreach and a willingness to listen, Brewer has earned the trust of rank-and-file law enforcement officers. He’s the DA partner we’ve been waiting for.
Matthew Clay is president of the San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association. Clay’s commentary has been edited for style and clarity. See anything in there we should fact check? Tell us what to check out here.