DEAR EDITOR:

I was appalled to recently learn that the Portage County Sheriff has taken to helping himself to free copies of a local Portage County newspaper (The Portager) and burning them in a fire pit for enjoyment.

To make matters worse, he has encouraged his supporters to engage in the same misconduct. The sheriff tried to justify his behavior by claiming he dislikes the work of one of the reporters employed by the newspaper.

In the dystopian novel, “Fahrenheit 451,” the people who burned books were referred to as “firemen.” Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski may not be a fireman, but he is the chief law enforcement officer of Portage County.

As such, the residents of the county expect him to engage in a higher standard of conduct. I strongly encourage the sheriff to find another way to express himself before he graduates from newspapers to books.

MARTIN BRAMLETT

Ravenna