John Howsden: Animal activist should withdraw complaint against officer

Re “Dairymen’s anger stars in animal activist’s videos” (Page 3A, March 22): Steve Hindi, president of SHARK, accuses a Stanislaus deputy of corruption. Before anything else, a police officer must be honest. Honesty to a cop is like gold to a miner.

It’s great that Hindi and SHARK are watching out for animal rights. Though I don’t condone it, I understand how he and his ilk employ the tactics of pushing buttons. Hindi filing a corruption complaint because the deputy refused to make a false arrest is vindictive.

What may not be understood by Hindi, and others, is the complaint will go into the deputy’s personnel file where it will stay forever and a day. Yes, he will be exonerated, but every time he tries for a promotion, job interview or position of trust, he will have to explain that little black mark on his record – all because he did his job properly.

I want to think SHARK is a legitimate organization, but I find Hindi’s spiteful behavior unprincipled. Someone should make it clear to Hindi the needless damage he is doing with his bogus complaint, and give him the opportunity to rescind it. If he refuses, who is really being corrupt?

This story was originally published March 24, 2016 at 6:18 PM with the headline "John Howsden: Animal activist should withdraw complaint against officer."