Re “Possible street racing leads to hit-and-run in WeHo,” Aug. 16 issue

No one can continue to legitimately say the sheriffs are doing a wonderful job while there is so much criminal behavior taking place all around us, practically 24/7, which is not properly dealt with.

A street melee, practically a riot, on Robertson Boulevard near the Abbey, fist fights, personal assaults, smashed windshields, no suspects apprehended, although only a block from the sheriff’s station. Dangerous street racing on Sunset and San Vicente, almost killing an innocent pedestrian in a crosswalk, no suspects apprehended. Cars, homes and businesses broken into at various times of the day and night. Suspects rarely apprehended.

An increasing influx of the homeless, mostly mentally ill and/or seriously addicted to drugs and alcohol, who too often pose a danger to innocent pedestrians and bystanders with vicious verbal assaults and increasingly, violent physical assaults. I’m not aware of any intervention by a sheriff in any of these assaults by the homeless, nor do I know anyone who has.

Several years ago, an innocent man was attacked and practically beaten to death right in front of the sheriff’s station. If they are not going to be personally present as a deterrent to crime on the streets, can’t there be at least some surveillance cameras installed that may help apprehend some of these criminals and protect the innocent? It keeps getting worse, and will continue to do so if not properly dealt with by those responsible.

I don’t know where all these sheriffs and their vehicles hang out all day and all night, but they are certainly not a very visible public presence. I would think that in this small city of under two square miles, law enforcement could easily constantly patrol border to border at all hours of the day and night. Car 54, where are you?

Woody McBreairty

West Hollywood