County Recorder Frances Deane tries to avoid the media.

Embattled Clark County Recorder Frances Deane returned to work Tuesday, her first day on the job since Las Vegas police raided her home and office on March 7.

Authorities are investigating allegations that Ms. Deane, elected to her post in 2002, used her access to sensitive documents for personal profit by selling them before they became public. Sources close to the police investigation have said Ms. Deane received more than $140,000 from Republican activist Monty L. Miller in exchange for records. Mr. Miller is cooperating with the police investigation.

Over the past week, Ms. Deane has agreed to stay away from the recorder's office during the investigation, then broken that agreement, then stated that she never struck such an agreement with County Manager Thom Reilly.

Exactly how Ms. Deane will make sure her office is archiving public records -- those that confirm property ownership among them -- remains to be seen. Police seized most everything in her office, including her computer. The county has suspended her e-mail account. Her staff, which had no respect for her as an administrator, can't trust her.

And by all accounts, the investigation has changed the 42-year-old Ms. Deane, already an unprofessional flake, into a complete basket case.

"Every day is a different Frances Deane," said Mr. Reilly. "There is just so much drama with that woman." When asked, he agreed that "she doesn't play well with others."

Beyond eliminating Ms. Deane's after-hours access to the Clark County Government Center, county officials can't do much else to prevent her from returning to work. Only a recall election or a conviction under the state's misconduct by a public official statute could remove her from office.

"I need to fulfill the duties of my job," Ms. Deane said in defense of her return.

Ms. Deane and other local elected officials have long failed to recognize that their duties go far beyond just showing up at meetings and overseeing staff. They must fulfill the duties of their jobs in a manner that inspires and maintains the public's trust.

Ms. Deane lost that trust years ago. She paid a $5,000 fine to the state Ethics Commission for planning to profit from the sale of free public documents over the Internet. She allowed title companies to provide free lunches to her staff in exchange for favoring their business over mailed requests. She admitted consulting with a psychic on major life decisions and planted lies with her staff to test their loyalty. She drives without a Nevada license.

And now, facing the most troubling allegations of her brief political career -- allegations that, if true, could land her in prison -- she really believes she can effectively administer an office that performs tasks vital not only to the public, but to the offices of the assessor, treasurer and justice system? (All the more reason to make the recorder's office an appointed position, rather than an elected one.)

We've stated here before that Ms. Deane could retain a sliver of dignity by resigning. The current investigation notwithstanding, she simply isn't fit for public office, even one as anonymous as recorder.

But if she's intent on collecting her $91,000 annual salary for the rest of her term, she should at least have the common sense to realize that she must stay away from the public's business while police investigate her.