POLICE OFFICERS HAVE LOST PRESUMPTION OF HONESTY

At one time, police officers held a special place in most communities.
It was assumed they were honest and upright. Thats no longer the case
in central Illinois.

Charles Bassett, deputy chief of the Pekin Police Department until
recently, is the latest example. The 29-year cop was charged Wednesday
with stealing more than $1,800 from two police funds he monitored. A
candidate for Tazewell County sheriff five years ago, Bassett retired
not long after the investigation began.

Unfortunately, Tri-County residents are becoming accustomed to seeing
police officers on the wrong side of the courtroom. Last year former
Woodford County Sheriff Bill Myers was sentenced to three years in
prison after admitting stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from
the county. The year before that, Bureau County Sheriff Greg Johnson
pleaded guilty to destroying fundraising raffle tickets that were part
of a state investigation into his conduct. Three other charges,
including official misconduct, were dismissed in return for his
resignation.

No doubt these men are the exception to the vast majority of law
enforcement officers who are scrupulously honest. But its hard to see
that when high-ranking officials like these three make petty crooks
look respectable.

The presumption that Bill Myers never would steal from the county
blinded some County Board members and others to clear evidence that
indeed he would and was. Apparently that did not happen in Pekin. City
officials went to the states attorney when an audit suggested missing
money. For good or bad, no one can assume now that people who take an
oath to enforce the law can be counted on to obey it.

Regardless, the law considers Bassett innocent until proven guilty.
But its not as easy for observers to keep the brain in neutral as it
used to be.