Okay, that's what the Sheriff did because apparently there was discretion there. But was that the most appropriate action given the extent of the Sergeant's indiscretions? Was that punishment fair to the tax payers who seek public servants that do their jobs with fairness and honesty and integrity?

I say the Sheriff responded in a way that was convenient perhaps but not in a way that was justifiably called for and appropriate. He therefore misused his power for convenience and this is wrong. We are betraying the public trust by making decisions based on convenience or politics or expedience, or what have you, (because we have the power to). We should make decisions based on what  is right and appropriate within the framework of what we are entrusted to do on the public's behalf.
 
This is what ethics is about, right - doing what is right as opposed to what we can get away with for self serving reasons?
 

Delano, Mary            Delano@ADM.NJIT.EDU

If I were the sheriff, I would immediately suspend the deputy pending a review of Internal Affair’s report.  (Whether he is placed on paid or unpaid suspension would depend on the internal policy regarding such suspensions.  If there is no policy, I’d place him on unpaid suspension.)  If the review of the investigators’ report shows that his is guilty of the allegations, I would immediately fire him.  Moreover, I would refer the matter to the local commonwealth attorney for criminal prosecution. 

My logic…..  This is not an ordinary bureaucrat.  This is a person who took an oath to uphold the law and has the authority to arrest those who do not.  He violated that oath.  Punishment for such a violation must be clear, swift, and unequivocal.  The public deserves nothing less.  Moreover, failure to take strong action could cause all the members of law enforcement in that community to be tainted by his actions.  Law enforcement officers already have a tough enough job.  They don’t need that burden, too.

Mark Monson, SPHR Deputy Director for Administration, Department of Health Professions,804-662-9964   mailto:mark.monson@dhp.virginia.gov