We are Sullivan County residents and property owners. We are appalled at the behavior of Sullivan County law enforcement with respect to two prominent local citizens and business owners, Wade St. Germain and RJ Baker, the proprietors of the popular venue Cabernet Frank’s in Parksville.

We were gratified to hear that the absurd charges against Messrs. St. Germain and Baker were dismissed by the district attorney following the court hearing last week. We remain thoroughly unhappy that charges of this kind were brought in the first place in our county, and even more so concerning the manner in which they were brought. 

We believe that whether or not intended, Sullivan County law enforcement is sending a clear message that LGBTQ+ community members are not welcome in our county, even those who own a high-profile anchor business in a struggling hamlet that desperately needs their presence. That is not acceptable. We believe that homophobia has no place in Sullivan County. Sullivan County prides itself on welcoming tourism. Just how welcoming do you think the county will be viewed if it comes to have a homophobic reputation? 

We believe that the very least that the sheriff and the district attorney owe the public is this: (1) make a public statement about how these charges came to be brought; (2) identify and if appropriate discipline those responsible; and (3) assure the public that this sort of grievous miscarriage of justice will not happen again. 

We also believe that the sheriff and the district attorney owe an apology to Messrs. St. Germain and Baker, along with strong assurances that the law enforcement personnel of Sullivan County will treat them respectfully and ensure that their protection order is enforced, and that their neighbor Joe Peters will not be allowed to continue to harass them. And further, the county at a minimum should reimburse them for their legal expenses and any other out-of-pocket costs involved in this miscarriage of justice. 

To be clear, we are expressing our views solely as Sullivan County residents and property owners. We have no connection, personal or otherwise, to Messrs. St. Germain and Baker, or their business endeavors. We simply want to see justice for these members of our community, and law enforcement conducted in Sullivan County in a respectful, unbiased, even-handed and lawful manner. 

David Brittenham and Carolyn Summers 
Neversink, NY