The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports about the difficulty Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke, Jr., has in firing a deputy:
As a dispute escalates over discipline of wayward deputies, Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is trying again to fire a deputy who kept his job after smashing into another car and fleeing while intoxicated off duty.
Clarke is attempting to build a perjury case against Deputy Victor Erato III, whose dismissal was overturned by the county’s Personnel Review Board.
Swell. Drinking and driving and leaving the scene of the accident. In retrospect, it does seem harsh to hold some blue collar working law enforcement official who has a chance of getting shot every day to a higher standard than the state’s attorney general, Peggy Lotsalager.
On the other hand, why does the Personnel Review Board and so many other oppose standards of behavior for law enforcement officials? Do they want to have authorities that citizens can easily disrespect?
Law Enforcement officers are entitled to make mistakes in their personal lives. Because, it is just that, our PERSONAL life. We have stress, pressure and everyday life issues that we deal with, just like regular citizens do. Yes, we should obey the law as we enforce it. But we are not perfect. No one is.