About a year ago I posted an estimate of the cost of the State Patrol's fake diploma scandal. Ten state troopers had submitted fake diplomas in order to qualify for automatic pay raises. According to my calculations, the scandal cost taxpayers about $600,000 at minimum, and probably closer to $1 million, mostly in paid "administrative" leave.

Previous post is here.

Now KOMO news reports that five of the troopers have filed a lawsuit against WSP, claiming harm to reputation, emotional distress, etc. KOMO report is here.

So the price tag just went up. And at a time when Gov. Gregoire is making budget cuts that supposedly will mean more deaths, more amputations, etc. Has the Gov. proposed any reforms that would prevent a recurrence of a wasted $1 million? I am fairly sure the answer is no. Former DSHS head Dennis Braddock once said that to fire a state employee is a "hellacious process." It obviously remains so, and will as long as Gregoire is governor.

The troopers should have been summarily fired and escorted to the WSP parking lot. That's what would happen to me at my job if I tried to defraud my employer. Instead these troopers get one year paid vacations, and perhaps a pot of lawsuit gold at the end of the stainbow.

And no civil service reform in sight from Olympia; not even a feeble effort to prevent a repeat performance of this debacle.