No special treatment for Keokuk County sheriff ? REALLY

February 17, 2012

Washington, Iowa

To the Editor:

Are we all really to believe that there was no special treatment shown to Sheriff Shipley on his OWI charge ? his second OWI charge, that is. Sheriff Shipley pleaded guilty on Nov. 25, 2008, to operating a motorboat while intoxicated.

How does a habitual offender get a never-been-done-before (in Washington County ? maybe Keokuk County is different) ?deferred prosecution? for a second offense. In most states, to be eligible for a deferred prosecution you have to have no criminal record, let alone a conviction for the same offense.

Mr. Brock states as his main reason for the plea was to make sure Sheriff Shipley got an alcohol evaluation. I wonder if he has the same concerns for all second-offence OWI offenders. From his past record I would say ?probably not!?

Mr. Brock also mentions the stress that Sheriff Shipley might have been under due to the death of a fellow worker. Does this give us all a free pass to drive drunk when we experience stressful situations?

It was nice to see that the Keokuk County sheriff?s department employees were ready and willing to take the stand and possibly perjured themselves for their sheriff.

Washington, Iowa, or Washington, D.C., the politics are all the same.

We wonder what?s wrong with our country; it all starts at the local level that includes the corruption.

I wonder if Mr. Brock and Sheriff Shipley might run under the same campaign slogan for their re-election.

?No Special Treatment ? REALLY?

Peace,

Bob Gaal