Public Records Show ... Sheriff's Deputies Crashing Patrol Cars

OK, OK, it's not the worst thing ever, but this story from the Moses Lake-area Columbia Basin Herald shows exactly the kind of things the public can learn via the Public Records Act:

"Deputy David De La Rosa received a written reprimand for reportedly falling asleep at the wheel of a patrol car and driving off of Dodson Road May 4, according to sheriff's office documents obtained by the Columbia Basin Herald. The patrol vehicle stopped 200 feet from the roadway with damage to the vehicle front end, light bar and right front tire, according to the records. Deputy Beau Lamens received a three-day suspension without pay for losing control of a patrol vehicle on a curve of Road 1 NW near Quincy June 3. Sheriff's office records indicate Lamens entered the curve, which has a posted recommended speed of 25 mph, at an unknown rate of speed and struck a road sign with the rear of the vehicle. The patrol car sustained more than $2,500 in damage to the rear corner panel and bumper."

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/08/09/news/news02.txt