LITCHFIELD — On April 9, 2006, in the early-morning hours, the Hillsdale County Sheriff's Department brought a culture of violence and total lack of value for life to my home. The result was the brutal and senseless killing of our son, Max. We arrived on the scene about four minutes after the police. Standing on the lawn nearby, we witnessed everything.

The police displayed a total lack of professional conduct. Four deputies with the cover of darkness and behind their patrol cars, yelled and screamed demands, creating an environment for a tragic ending.

We were shocked when they started shooting. We yelled and pleaded for them to stop. They hit trees and a house. They hit my son in the ankle and the top of the head. They were soon standing over our dying son, and we could hear them reminding each other that there were witnesses present.

We think of the senseless loss of our son every day, and will for the rest of our lives. If we would have arrived five minutes before the police, this never would have happened. The news media at the time only gave what the police told. When they killed Max, they killed us.

It's time for a change in Hillsdale County. It's time we established a new mission and a new culture for the police, one of honesty and respect for citizens and for life itself.

Please join us, our family and friends in supporting Gerald Perham, candidate for Hillsdale County sheriff on Aug. 5. We need competent leadership.

— Virgie Seely and Gary Croad