Agents' actions were proper and justified

On April 28 an article entitled "Agents actions pose dragnet concerns" was written by James Bean Johnston, who wanted to be Sheriff but was defeated. His radical, unsubstantiated comments about the U.S. Marshals Service was unacceptable.

I have been on a number of U.S. Marshals' task forces so I can speak with some authority.

Every fugitive of the 10,000 captured were not just average citizens. They all had warrants for their arrests. Secondly, I have checked into this and the Patriot Act was never used.

Then Johnston goes on to say the officers involved were trying to show their bosses how good they are. Their bosses already know how good they are as the deputy U.S. marshals have the best arrest track record of any federal agency. All operations are kept a secret until they are over.

Johnston goes on to say the mmarshals then asked for more money. How wrong he is again.

There has never been a case where taxpayer dollars have been needed. Starting from the very first sting operation where the Marshals advertised to the fugitives' last address for Redskins tickets, a limo ride and a free steak dinner, these operations were based on appealing to greed. And boy, did the bad guys come out of the woodwork.

When possible, fugitive assets are seized and $1 to $2 million go into the asset seizure program. That's why taxpayer money is not used as the fugitives pay to go to jail.

Johnston is a loose cannon and should never be elected to public office, in my opinion.

WILLIAM H. MILLER

Retired U.S. Marshals inspector

Sagle