Just over a year ago, nine state troopers were put on paid "administrative leave," after it was discovered that they had submitted fake diplomas from diploma mills in order to qualify for raises. The nine, along with their monthly salaries (according to the Tacoma News Tribune state salary database):

Christopher Sweet....$6354
Robert Brusseau........6230
Jason Linn.................6230
Garbriel Olson............5311
Bryan Ensley..............5311
Spike Unruh...............5311
John McMillan..............5417
Dennis Tardiff.............5311
Daniel Mann................5526

The average salary is just about $68,000 per year. A tenth trooper, James Hotaling apparently was on military duty at the time. He resigned in July, along with John McMillan. The other eight toughed it out on paid leave for the full year. They are now back on the job, but will serve 3 to10 day suspensions. By my calculation, the 9 were paid a total of about $595,779 while on leave. Given the excellent benefits enjoyed by public employees, I am guessing that number would jump by another $200,000 if benefits were added. With the cost of the year-long investigation, and the cost of overtime for other troopers to make up for the absence of those on leave, it seems likely that this escapade cost taxpayers over $1 million.

Two points should not go unnoticed. First of all, it has been argued that these troopers were merely mistaken about the diplomas. After all, they duly submitted them to WSP HR, and were told that the diplomas were acceptable. But if we make that argument, why even suspend the troopers? In fact, why even put them on leave? I don't see a middle ground here. Either the troopers knew exactly what they were doing, in which case they should have been fired, or they didn't, in which case they should not be disciplined, period. WSP brass can't have it both ways.

Secondly, for WSP to release this news on a Friday afternoon before the election was clearly an underhanded tactic. This news was, like all news, was mostly ignored over the weekend, and lightly covered on Monday. Tuesday brings the election, news of which will completely bury this story. The tactic was effective.

Both of these points go to the culpability of WSP brass in this matter. I urge all to contact your state legislators, and Gov. Gregoire. Don't let the underhanded tactics win out, and don't let this episode be forgotten.