MORNING LINE: Sheriff not so understanding
Former Metro detective Eric Washington got probation for three felonies committed while on duty related to defrauding an 87-year-old man. (It’s the subject of today’s column.)
Sheriff Doug Gillespie isn’t as understanding.
Does he believe Washington should have done some jail time?
“Yes,” Gillespie said Thursday. “The reason he was able to do what he did is because he was a police officer. He violated the trust of not only that individual, but the community as a whole. People reading that newspaper this morning at times now are going to question what it is they’re being told in their interaction with not only Metro, but law enforcement in general.
“We emphasize in police officers’ initial academy training that you’re going to be held to the highest standard. And when you violate that trust, you’re going to be held accountable. … Judge, that’s a tough job to do, too. I’m not trying to second-guess her. But I think a good message would have been prison time.”
