[Victims of Court Corruption] To Hanford Police Chief Carlos Mestas

Dear Police Chief Carlos Mestas:

I have read the below media report regarding Officer Ernesto Servin, and your statement,  "Well, I can tell you, it's very disheartening, extremely disheartening, when it's entrusted on us to enforce the laws, when in fact, one of our own is violating the law."

As one who has spent many years within the legal system, I wish to share with you that violations of law by law enforcement officers has become a duty. Allow me to give a real example. A number of years ago I was stopped by a California Highway Patrol Officer for not displaying an updated registration tab on my car.

I retained with me both the proof that I had properly paid for the registration by mail with the DMV, with a copy of the canceled check by the DMV. I stated to the officer that I had yet to receive my registration tab, and showed him the California Vehicle Code provision that states that if one has paid the registration fee, a citation may not be issued.

The CHP Officer, by policy, ignored this law, and wrote out a citation. He told me that I should show the judge proof of payment and the judge will dismiss the case. I asked him why I should appear in court for a dismissal under law, when the law states he may not cite anyone who has paid the fee. He stated, "I am just doing my job."

Well, I appeared in court, and showed the judge proof of payment and the law. The judge quickly dismissed the case.

I then proceeded with a lawsuit against this CHP Officer for willfully and knowingly violating State law. The State Attorney General appeared in the case and argued that the CHP officer was only doing his job as he is instructed. So I amended the complaint to state that the State of California has a policy, practice, and a custom of requiring their law enforcement officers to willfully and knowingly violate California State Law. 

In other words, my complaint was that it is the job and duty of every law enforcement officer to willfully violate California State Law in this State. I mention this in respect to your statement, "Well, I can tell you, it's very disheartening, extremely disheartening, when it's entrusted on us to enforce the laws, when in fact, one of our own is violating the law."

So, now we have a renegade group of people carrying the title of "law enforcement officers," whose duty it is to willfully and knowingly violate the laws of this State. Such policy breeds contempt by the people of this state not only for law enforcement officers, but for the law itself.

Ron Branson
VictoryUSA@jail4judges.org

Hanford Police officer arrested on drug related charges Friday, May 04, 2012 HANFORD, California (KFSN) -- Hanford Police arrest one of their own. A respected officer faces drug, weapon, and perjury charges. http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8647553 Related Content More: ABC30 Neighborhood News Ernesto Servin was arrested Thursday afternoon, after detectives found evidence of drug sales inside his personal car while he was on duty. The Kings County District Attorney's Office received a tip just a couple of days ago. They passed it along to Hanford Police. Then, after serving a search warrant, Officer Servin was given the opportunity to resign, which he did before his fellow officers placed him under arrest. Ernesto Servin kept his face covered, and said nothing as walked out of the Kings County jail Thursday night. He has served as a patrol officer with the Hanford Police Department for four and a half years. During that time, Chief Carlos Mestas says he never got into trouble and was respected by his fellow cops. Chief Carlos Mestas said, "Well, I can tell you, it's very disheartening, extremely disheartening when it's entrusted on us to enforce the laws, when in fact, one of our own is violating the law." Servin is accused of providing drugs to at least two people in Hanford. Chief Mestas says he also faces perjury and fraud charges for allegedly writing false police reports or in some cases, not turning them in. Mestas said, "He wrote a report that was not necessarily true to fact. So, he was covering up for other drug dealers in town? No, probably covering up for himself, it appears." Servin was on duty Thursday when detectives searched his car, which was parked just outside the Hanford Police Department. Inside, they found at least four grams of meth, marijuana, oxycontin and a firearm. People who live in Hanford say the allegations make them think twice about who they can trust. Adriana Deshazor of Hanford said, "You're supposed to be an officer of the law. How are you going to do that, and you're like not protecting us?" Bill Blake of Hanford said, "You always hear about the bad ones of course, and there's a lot of good ones, but just cause they're policeman, they're not all honest." As for the 52 remaining officers who wear the Hanford Police badge, Chief Mestas says they feel the same way and are "sickened" by Servin's arrest. "We take it extremely seriously. The last thing we want is a dirty cop." Chief Mestas says there is no reason to believe anyone else is involved with this case. The investigation is still ongoing. Servin faces charges of possession of a controlled substance with a firearm, controlled substance for sale, perjury and fraud by trust.