A number of law enforcement officials from across the state have written a letter on behalf of Gov. Chris Gregoire's safety record in response to an attack mailer sent out by the Republican Governors Association.

The mailer includes the names and faces of six of 1,300 convicted sex offenders the RGA claims are unaccounted for, as well as a dozen other mugshots of shady looking characters. It says Gregoire's record includes overseeing 3,100 early released felons and 600 sex offenders released as "homeless".

"We are writing to express our collective outrage at the Republican Governors Association (RGA) for broadcasting misleading television ads that distort Governor Gregoire's record and slander the hard work we do every day," the letter states.

It goes on to say that Gregoire has supported law enforcement "every step of the way" and says she actually fought for tougher sentencing for sex offenders, and touts the state's crime rate which is the lowest in fourteen years.

"These attacks trivialize the work we do every day and exploit a parent's worst fears," the letter continues. "And to what end? So that in less than thirty days a parent will be frightened into putting a check mark next to Republican Dino Rossi's name. These attacks are disgusting, unethical and desperate."