A Great First Step

The sheriff’s department is becoming a lot more transparent (might be because there is an election on the horizon). Whatever the reason, it’s a good thing for Ramona. As with any law enforcement group, they have their critics. But now with The Ramona Citizen’s Advisory Group there will be a direct communication line of our community’s concerns to the sheriff’s Ramona Substation. Lt. Duncan Fraser stated “this is your group” and it will be up to the advisory group to set its own agenda, not the sheriff’s department. Which plain and simple means, if you have a question, suggestion or a concern, you should be able to get an answer.

The advisory group needs to be focused and decide on a mission statement that defines the goals and what they want to accomplish. Now that there is an advisory group established, the hard work starts. The group must stay on task and not lose direction. They must be responsive to the community’s concerns and they must hold the sheriff’s department accountable. I agree with the group’s decision to not open their meetings to the general public until they have a clear direction and priorities established. The opportunity for the advisory group to have a real impact is there, and I applaud those Ramonans who have stepped forward and the sheriff’s department as well. Working together with open lines of communication along with all of us in being more observant and vigilant when it comes to what’s going in our community will make Ramona an even better place to live.

Jeff Mitchell