Some stories that you read in The News Observer are harder for us to report than others. That’s become some are simply hard to stomach, some because of the dark cloud they cast over the entire community and some simply because we know how people will react, whether that reaction is justified or not.
For instance, there are the stories of children being hurt in ways a decent society cannot tolerate. The guilty deserve swift and sure punishment.
Yet, when we write the story, we know that punishment will take months and more often years to be decided. The victim’s pain, which never goes away, is only prolonged.
There are the stories of tragedies that for some reason effect everyone, the death of a teenager or the murder of a mother and son, for instance.
Then there are the stories that result in unfair judgments – the kind where a whole barrel of apples is judged by a few. One of those appears elsewhere this week.
Thirty Georgia state troopers were fired last week by Colonel Mark McDonough for cheating on a test. One of those was stationed in Blue Ridge.
The situation is as straight forward as one comes. An allegation was reported, investigated, found to be true and the proper disciplinary action was taken. The process took less than four months.
The handling of the allegation and the openness of the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) to tell the public the full story reflects the professionalism of the organization. It reflects the dedication of the men and women who remain steadfast to serve the citizens of the state.
This professionalism starts at the top and works its way all the way through the ranks.
McDonough, commander of the GSP and commissioner of the state Department of Public Safety, is as outstanding a public servant as can be found anywhere. He is not a politician.
McDonough was stationed in Blue Ridge as he made his way through the GSP ranks. His reputation among other law enforcement officers here is stellar.
We remember him as someone always easy to work with, always open, and always forthcoming with information about a story, no matter any perceived consequences.
At the same time, he was and obviously still is a by-the-book guy. Rules exist for a reason and when they are broken action is required. That’s what the firing of 30 brand new state troopers says.
But that’s not what many members of society will see. The entire state patrol will be judged by the actions of a few. And that judgment will spread to all law enforcement agencies.
The law enforcement naysayers, those who have no respect for the tough jobs these men and women do, will use the situation to say “they’re all bad, they’re all crooked,” when nothing could be farther from the truth.
The GSP is known nationwide as one of the most professional organizations of its kind.
But like any law enforcement agency, when society sees an opening to take a cheap shot, that shot is taken.
But the truth cannot be altered. In every barrel of apples, a few bad ones can be found, but those few don’t ruin or reflect the whole barrel.
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Glenn Harbison is publisher/editor of The News Observer. He can be reached at 706-632-2019 or by email at glenn@thenewsobserver.com.