Leadership, Views on News, public relations • July 22nd, 2009

Degrees of misconduct

by Chris Lato

I had an interesting conversation recently about whether any law or state regulation that is on the books should still be enforced- particularly when those who create/enforce the laws are accused of breaking it.

The initial discussion was spurred by adultery – which is illegal in Wisconsin. Recently, a top law enforcer was caught in an affair with a reporter/commentator/professor who wrote a story about him. Both were married and admitted to the infidelity. (I’m not mentioning names here – I see no need to rehash. Read some of Dan Bice’s recent columns at JSOnline if you don’t know who I’m talking about.)

Now, beyond the obvious questions of journalistic ethics, should the law enforcer face punishment for breaking what most people likely consider to be an unnecessary law that hasn’t been enforced in decades?

If he shouldn’t be prosecuted, then why not? Why is the law even on the books if it’s never going to be enforced?

One could make the case that this is a private matter between consenting adults, and that the state law is an excessive intrusion into the private lives of citizens. One could also make the case that the law is the law - and those charged with enforcing the law should also be expected to adhere to it.

This got me thinking about the Doyle administration ‘incomplete travel records’ story, and I’m wondering if this guy has a point. He was a prison official caught helping himself to a few tankfuls of gas on the taxpayers’ dime. He was – ahem – accused of violating state travel policy and fired.

As someone who helps enforce the law, no doubt the guy should have known better.  He lost his job after taking roughly $400 worth of gas.

Was his firing appropriate? If so, what would be appropriate for those who fail to provide proper documentation in support of dozens of travel expenses, likely totaling thousands of dollars? It doesn’t seem unreasonable to expect that those in the governor’s office, of all places, should know the rules and stick to them.

Or, based on the governor’s recent stonewalling, perhaps the administration considers the travel policy simply not worthy of being taken seriously.

In that case, Brian Thom should get his job back…right? Because you wouldn’t want to enforce the travel policy against one party while letting someone else get off scot-free. That would really send the wrong message about selective enforcement and being above the rules that members of government at all levels are expected to abide by.

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