When we came to Lake County back in the 1970s it was like Mayberry RFD. Well, except for Clearlake Highlands, later incorporated as the city of Clearlake.

When I was a boy we divided up and played, “cops and robbers” – shooting at one another with pointed fingers or short sticks – and shouting, “You got me,” as we died very dramatic deaths. Next time around former cops became robbers and vice versa so we couldn’t tell cops from robbers.

Jackie and I were warned to steer clear of Clearlake because it was dangerous. If the county was described anatomically, Clearlake was always labeled as the posterior, or at least a certain part of the posterior.

For years we couldn’t tell cops from robbers there. Then the city brought on Bob Chalk as the chief of police and everything changed.

As a graduate of FBI education he was well schooled in the most modern methods of crime control. He got rid of the deadwood, brought the rest up to speed and schooled them in the most up-to-date police actions.

He was the first in California to bring in the California Highway Patrol to assist. He was always within budget and left the office with thousands of dollars surplus. Despite that he reduced crime by an incredible 65 percent during his tenure.

Jackie and I, after 35 years of volunteer work, had beaten our swords into plowshares and hung up our shields. We intended to go traveling, that is, until the spectacle of the present sheriff appeared.

I need the words of Shakespeare to describe his activities: “Tis a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

The man is a complete embarrassment to his office and the county, and for us taxpayers, a very expensive embarrassment, I might add.

Therefore we became interested when Bob Chalk declared his candidacy last year, researched his qualifications and found them superb.

Then recently Brian Martin announced that he, too, was going to run. Since we’ve been supporters of Bob Chalk, I suppose at this point I’m obligated to say bad things about Brian. But I don’t know any bad things about Brian Martin. Jackie and I have known his family for years and they’re wonderful people.

It’s just that Chalk with his experience and extraordinary performance is by far the better man for the job at this time. Perhaps Martin can bone up and relieve Chalk when he retires as sheriff.

Randy Ridgel lives in Kelseyville, Calif.