The Atherton community should even more concerned about the infiltration of "gang mentality" from an out of control police department than it needs to be about any doubbtfull substance abuse from an individual with 50 years of residency.
The question of intimidating the press to control public discourse by using harassment and vendetta to intimidate a resident editor, is a bigger affront to transparency that any Brown Act violation ever could be.
Has Atherton really become so dysfunctional than we need to accept a Police State.
[Portion deleted.]

What kind of call would have all of the Atherton Police Officers leave the scene in the middle of the incident?

"indeed, a call came in the middle of this incident and Atherton officers had to leave the scene" Lt. Wade said.

10 officers conducting a search in a misdemeanor under the influence probation case. Sounds out of the ordinary.

Editor:

I thought this forum was about expressing opinions. I expressed an opinion and you deleted it. As ex-law enforcement, I think my opinion actually carries a little weight in the issue of Mr. Bothun's probation search. I know why and when they can be done. I also know that if I conducted a probabtion search and found a usable quatity of methamphetamine that person would be going to jail. Mr. Bothun wasn't arrested. Why? In my OPINION this is what flags this whole thing as smelly.

A probabtion search was conducted - for what reasons? Drugs were alledgedly found and the probationer was not arrested - why? This simply does not pass the smell test. Atherton has a BIG problem with some corrupt officers in its ranks. Its a shame nothing is being done about it.

"10 officers conducting a search in a misdemeanor under the influence probation case. Sounds out of the ordinary."

In my experience, very out of the ordinary.

If you're reading this post, I'll bet you have one of these drugs in your medicine cabinet that will also "test positive for methamphetamine."

Nyquil, Contact, Sudafed, Allerest, Tavist-D, Dimetapp, Robitussin Cold and Flu, Vicks Nyquil, Dexatrim, Accutrim, Vicks inhaler, Afrin, Marax, Bronkaid tablets, and Primatine.

Be very careful when you draw conclusions...

Editor,

I have personally informed/warned you of the danger and damage that could result from your paper vanishing posts.

There is an Atherton woman alive and well today because I saw and read a post that was on your site for less than 30 minutes. To this day I am so thankful to the poster and that I just happened to be using my computer at that moment.

The thread was called Stogner's Crusade, your paper has locked this thread and you show a total of 7 posts. There were 11 posts and it was the 9th or 10th that saved the above mention woman in my opinion.

Web Link

You are doing it again with this subject, please add at the bottom of threads the number of posts that have been vanished, that way the posters or potential posters can make a choice to post or not.

It takes courage to be a whistleblower, once you decide to make a report public, and that is based on the report/post remaining public. When you add the element of vanishing the post (s) you are encouraging the public to stay quiet. Wrong message

Editor:

would you be kind enough to explain why you "dissappear" certain posts with absolutely no reference to their existance and in other cases you delete the content with a note as to why? It is very disturbing and smacks of "big brother." It makes me wonder if you are in the pocket of the corrupt members of Atherton, San Mateo County, etc. or you are afraid of them. Which is it? Are you afraid of lawsuits? You shouldn't be. People have a right to express opinions and just because they appear here does not mean you can be punished for it. Anyone can file a lawsuit, but it takes the TRUTH to win it. It's not slanderous or libelous if it is TRUE. As you are not reporting it as true only providing an open forum for people to express opinions, true are not, what is it you fear? Or is it as I suspect, you are in someone's pocket? That is the only logical conclusion I can come to given the above.

It will be interesting to see how long this post lasts.


[EDITOR'S NOTE: We are taking offline unsubstantiated rumors, innuendos, speculations about what happened or might have happened, or who might have had what motive, etc.]

From: Peter F Carpenter
Subject: Protecting the Fourth Estate
Date: October 10, 2010 10:47:15 AM PDT
To: Jay Thorwaldson , Richard Hine , tom gibboney , Diana Diamond , Ashley Steyaert , Lisa Krieger

It appears that Brian Bothun, having served a prison term, may now be the object of both persecution and prosecution by San Mateo County authorities. The facts on this matter are not clear and the absence of any reporting on the incident is most disturbing. I seldom agreed with Bothun's writings or opinions but I think that it is imperative that reporters who have been critical of authorities not be subject to retaliation. I would hope that each of you would investigate and report on this situation.

Which of you will be next to be subjected to such intimidation?


Peter

"Which of you will be next to be subjected to such intimidation?"

Or are they already subject to such intimidation?

Sir William Blackstone said that it's better for ten guilty men to go free than for one innocent one to suffer. This has formed the basis for Western systems of law for hundreds of years and has distinguished our system from almost all others.

A closely related principle is that faith in the system is of paramount importance and that equity must prevail for this faith to continue to be earned. EVEN IF a small amount of methamphetamine was found (and POGO points out that we all have it), does whatever justice that has been served by finding it in the way this was outweigh the perception problem this probation search may have created?

Experts in law enforcement such as Menlo Voter understand what I'm talking about. Atherton should try to see if he can consult with the Town on these types of issues.

"[EDITOR'S NOTE: We are taking offline unsubstantiated rumors, innuendos, speculations about what happened or might have happened, or who might have had what motive, etc.]"

And why are you doing that? Will you kindly answer my previous questions? What are you afraid of? Are you in the pocket of some corrupt politicians or police? Are you being intimidated by the police? Isn't this forum all about people expressing their opinions whether they be unsubstatiated or speculative? If not, what's the point in having this forum?

Mr. Buckheit:

While I appreciate your faith in my expertise, there a far more qualified individuals that would be well consulted by the town on these types of issues. Joseph McNamara comes to mind and he is just down the road at the Hoover Institution. If someone had pulled this probation search stunt on McNamara's watch in San Jose there would have been hell to pay. McNamara was, if nothing else, very conciouos of public perception.

Unfortunately, I don't think the town is really interested in cleaning up its Police Department. If it was, some major changes would have been made by the Chief by now. They haven't. Just tells me he isn't really interested or equipped to deal with the problem in his ranks.