Associated Press Dec. 9, 2003 09:00 AM
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Arvin Mayor Juan Olivares had just one request of a Kern County sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop - "Don't call me dude."
Olivares planned to file an official complaint with the sheriff's department, seeking to have the deputy fired for what he called disrespectful behavior.
"I asked him five times, 'Please, officer, don't call me dude.' I'm not a dude. I'm 41 years old, I'm a businessman, I'm a Christian and I consider myself a gentleman," Olivares said Monday.
Olivares is mayor of Arvin, a city of 20,000 in Kern County, about 20 miles south of Bakersfield.
The deputy stopped Olivares and Arvin City Councilwoman Carmen Acevedo in Bakersfield on Nov. 23. Olivares, who was driving, said he was ticketed for having illegally tinted windows on his vehicle, and Acevedo received a citation for having an open container of beer.
Olivares didn't dispute the charges. He just took issue with being called dude.
"He was calling me dude and laughing about it," Olivares said. "I don't think Kern County needs that kind of leadership."
Officials with the Kern County Sheriff's Department did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Arvin Mayor Juan Olivares had just one request of a Kern County sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop - "Don't call me dude."
Olivares planned to file an official complaint with the sheriff's department, seeking to have the deputy fired for what he called disrespectful behavior.
"I asked him five times, 'Please, officer, don't call me dude.' I'm not a dude. I'm 41 years old, I'm a businessman, I'm a Christian and I consider myself a gentleman," Olivares said Monday.
Olivares is mayor of Arvin, a city of 20,000 in Kern County, about 20 miles south of Bakersfield.
The deputy stopped Olivares and Arvin City Councilwoman Carmen Acevedo in Bakersfield on Nov. 23. Olivares, who was driving, said he was ticketed for having illegally tinted windows on his vehicle, and Acevedo received a citation for having an open container of beer.
Olivares didn't dispute the charges. He just took issue with being called dude.
"He was calling me dude and laughing about it," Olivares said. "I don't think Kern County needs that kind of leadership."
Officials with the Kern County Sheriff's Department did not immediately return a call seeking comment.