More than two years ago, Sheriff Warren Rupf withdrew the resident deputy from El Sobrante due to budget constraints.

Sheriff Rupf recently sent a notice to the El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce that there was a "groundswell" of support for a special (taxing) district election to restore deputy service. This is news to me.

As a member of the El Sobrante Municipal Advisory Council for the last four years, I have seen groups of El Sobrante residents report vandalism, auto racing and other persistent crimes in their neighborhoods, only to be turned away with no solution.

At a recent special meeting in Rodeo to address the forthcoming withdrawal of their resident deputy, residents heard Sheriff Rupf and Supervisor Gayle Uilkema tell them they must set up their own election to pay for the restoration of their resident deputy. Meanwhile, Rodeo and El Sobrante are facing an upsurge in crime, which must be addressed.

The P6 special district set up in 1983 for police services in unincorporated Contra Costa County collected more than $7.4 million last year in property taxes. Where is this money going? Sheriff Rupf and the Board of Supervisors owe us an explanation.

Marilynne L. Mellander

El Sobrante