Break out the taxpayer wallet, sheriff

This ain't good. The police officer involved in the widely discussed "Costco shooting" has now been indicted on an unrelated weapons charge.

The indictment returned Friday charges officer Thomas Mendiola with disposal of a firearm to a prohibited person. Mendiola allegedly gave a handgun to a two-time felon.

We're going to have to let the facts play out, of course. But at this moment this looks like one too many unrelated incidents. The problem is, in the Costco deal, a citizen is dead. Somebody at Metro should be prepared for the possibility of writing a one big fat check.