“Anonymous complaints” against a Lewis County sheriff candidate are being taken seriously and being “investigated” and apparently being made public by our state police training organization (Criminal Justice Training Commission, CJTC), and his boss.
“Anonymous” means the reporting person is willing to try to make trouble for the sheriff candidate but does not have the courage to put the accuser’s name on the accusation.
Anonymous accusations would be disregarded or at least not published by any person or organization if that person or organization has any moral character.
What I am saying is that we have a real problem when the organization that trains our law enforcement officers chooses to publicize a complaint that is not backed by any person.
The situation is especially troubling because the accusation is so unbelievably stupid, plus the fact that the Washington Legislature last week made a law giving the unelected CJTC the job of judging the fitness of, and possibly dismissing, our elected sheriffs.
Our current culture now condones taking seriously anonymous accusations made by any unknown person against real people to hurt the real person.
Anonymous claimers should not have that power.
When I grew up, I was taught to take responsibility for what I put forth. Not putting your name on your accusations against another person is the action of a coward, and those anonymous accusations should have no value.
Mike Kimbrel
Oakville
