LOUISVILLE'S POT POLICE

Many of the murders Louisville has suffered this year have been
related to drugs, so we can't imagine that reasonable people would
think that Metro Police Chief Robert White's decision to fire a
pot-smoking police officer is too harsh.

But the Louisville Metro Police Merit Board thinks so. And because of
that absurdity, Chief White has been forced to ask a Jefferson Circuit
Court judge to uphold his firing of Michael J. Thompson, who admitted
to possessing and using marijuana last spring.

Instead of supporting Chief White's defense of the department's zero
tolerance policy and his determination to protect the integrity of
drug prosecutions and of the department, the merit board tagged Chief
White as too hard-hearted.

The board's rationales for recommending suspension instead of
dismissal include Officer Thompson's apology and assertions that his
marijuana use was "isolated" and that he had only a small amount in
his system. Plus, the board said he had sought help, and had "a
virtually unblemished record" in 13 years with the department.

Whether Officer Thompson smoked a joint only now and then is
irrelevant if the department's policy is zero tolerance.

The community should be glad that Chief White is resolute and equally
glad that he's trying to establish better limits on the duties and
obligations of the merit board.

Such clarity is badly needed if Louisville is to have the strong,
accountable management the department requires.

It's ironic, after all the clamor for a civilian review board, that
the closest thing Louisville has to one is undercutting the chief's
ability to maintain good discipline and high standards.

But it's also baffling. What have its members been smoking?