W. Richard Doerre

To the editor:

Role reversal: Alton’s date of infamy.

When President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the nation on Dec. 8, 1941 his words “a date which will live in infamy” became part of history. Alton turned the table and created its own date of infamy on the last day of the show trial of Lt. Correia — March 21, 2007. The three self-appointed judges must have taken their guidance from procedures practiced in such noble democratic institutions as the former Soviet Union and its satellites, Communist China and National Socialist Germany, all buried in their graves now, except for the Democratic People’s Republic of Cuba. The proceedings were all so alike: Accuse, sentence (pre-determined), execute. Do it quickly, the next case comes up in minutes. There and then trials were quick and cheap, the Alton trial is tedious and very expensive. And follow the party-line which, in the Alton case, was not even necessary. But have a prosecutor who handles trials like this like a murder case, vigorous, merciless, totally convinced of the high degree of crimes committed — smell the blood in the air. And we, the public, taxpaying citizens of Alton had to endure such theatrics, admittedly voluntarily. I was also reminded of times past when I heard the incessant, ad nauseam, references to “fair” proceedings. The characters of old were fully convinced that the more often you use a lie, the more likely it will become the truth. Well, in the Lt. Correia case it did not. The comparison to "People’s Courts" of the past could not have been in better evidence than displayed when the “hard working” citizens for the prosecution gave their testimony. Where and how were these characters scraped up? The culmination was the quick disposal — was it even one sentence? — of the supporting letters for Lt. Correia, maybe even more than two dozen, indeed and in fact written by really hard-working and valuable citizens.

Our officials, elected or not, felt free to disregard established procedures and drag Lt. Correia into their kangaroo court. Was that arrogance or ignorance or both, would the people swallow that too? Apparently they did not. But the train of financial disaster, not yet destruction, of the town’s finances was set in motion and has not been stopped so far. Lt. Correia’s legal bills amount at this point to about $15,000. That is for one individual with one attorney. The town displays much more horsepower, of which all the attending citizens became aware. It is a safe presumption that the town has spilled about three times as much so far. On Monday, March 26 I will obtain numbers under the Freedom of Information Act for Account No. 1-4153 (legal fees totals) and I will convey them to the public. Looking back in the annual reports of fiscal years 2005 and 2006 we read in the town’s budgets that it spent $76,676 and $82,205 respectively. In spite of ongoing massive legislation the town appropriated only $63,689 for 2007. That money will be spent in no time on the Lt. Correia case with its forthcoming actions and the Chief Iwans case already filed in Superior Court. Where will the rest be coming from? Take it from the voter-approved replacement of the green monster fence at Little Fenway Park? Do not buy certain items approved by the voters? Do not do that, it is prohibited. But there is some money hidden somewhere in the budget: Salaries in the police budget for the command officers no longer employed. Twist and turn and, voila, there it comes out of the hat!

I wonder if the two newly-elected selectmen will display reason and responsibility and put an end to this immature, frivolous, self-serving behavior. There is a saying that every country (here: town) gets the kind of government it deserves. What did we citizens of Alton do to get the government we have?

And now this: “Speedy Gonzalez Sessler” was lightning-quick to accuse Lt. Correia in public (remember: "He took money from the town”), an unsustainable allegation which not even the three judges could uphold, much as they tried. Has anyone seen or heard his retraction and apology to Lt. Correia?

It is obvious that Lt. Correia is in need for more funds for his defense. He is not only defending himself, he is also standing up for the rest of the valuable citizens of this town. If you can help him, please do so, call me at 875-5544. I will not speak again with cowardly people who call me anonymously to spill their poison. And keep your fingers crossed for a just outcome of this debacle. Else, if such abuse of power spreads through the state and the nation, we may all have to emigrate to Cuba, or better yet, send our officials there.

W. Richard Doerre

Alton Bay