WA State police officers who used fake diplomas for pay raises get to keep their jobs--

[Mrs. Overall]

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Eight State Patrol troopers who used fake diplomas to earn pay raises are being allowed to return to their jobs despite an earlier recommendation that they be kicked off the force.

The State Patrol reversed itself Friday and decided to modify a recommendation from August that the troopers be fired.

Washington State Patrol Capt. Jeff DeVere said the eight troopers instead were each given a short suspension of three to 10 days, and that all will be returning to work. An investigation supported allegations that they had used the bogus diplomas to earn pay raises of up to 4 percent, and termination was recommended for all of them in August.

But in the weeks since then, the employees were interviewed and gave clear information to determine there was no intention from the employees except an error in judgment, DeVere said. As a result the terminations were converted to short suspensions, he said. DeVere did not say exactly when the troopers will be returning to work, but it's believed that some could be back on the job by early next week.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/67737007.html#IDCThread


Wow, submitting a fake diploma for pay increases is just "an error in judgment?"

[noiretextatique]

1. bullshit...it's lying

and they all should be fired.

[Lars39]

2. If they'll fake that, they'll fake any other kind of paperwork.

I'd love to see these guys testify in court...their fake diplomas should be brought up every time.

[Salviati]

5. Yeah, no kidding. I'm sure that criminal defense lawyers already have their names memorized.

[Salviati]

3. Sheesh, I hope that they're required to at least pay back the money that they defrauded me out of.

And they should all be assigned to jobs where they have to exercise no judgement whatsoever, given that theirs is so bad and all. Maybe they can alphabetize paperwork or replace burned out light bulbs around the station or something.

[imdjh]

4. Years ago, the WAPO exposed that many of the local ministers had bogus doctor of divinity.

Like there is a legitimate doctor of divinity. How the hell do you get a degree in god?

[Mrs. Overall]

7. The great thing about studying theology--

you emerge an atheist or at least an agnostic.

[Rage for Order]

6. One of the benefits of having strong union representation

If the majority of Americans had such a strong union to be their advocate we might not be in the sad shape we now find ourselves

[petronius]

8. "no intention from the employees except an error in judgment" and to

fraudulently obtain a pay raise. Do I understand correctly that they would not have gotten raises without the fake diplomas? If so, how is that not a crime? :shrug:

I don't like the 'Cops Suck' bandwagon, but I do believe that those who would enforce the law must be held to at least the standard of behavior laid out in the law. This is not it...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. I've no beef in the case either way.

The advocates for the police officers claim the officers were unaware that the "schools" were unaccredited.

So apparently they've been scammed and don't get any credit.

[tularetom]

10. That's just wrong - they should have been fired

I'm aware of a situation where a guy lied about a degree he didn't have in order to qualify for a staff position in a county government office. He got the job and kept it for eight years, performing in a creditable, if not above average manner and earning the respect of his peers and superiors. When he applied for a promotional opening in another department, he was subjected to a background investigation by an outside consultant who turned up the falsification on his original application. Although sentiment was universally in his favor from his co workers and the public, county legal counsel advised there was no choice, this gentleman had to go. He sued but the courts upheld his firing.

I really don't see any difference between that case and this one.