I think we have had some positive signs that ethics are becoming more popular and/or enforceable.

The MOntgomery County ethics board stopped Charles Moose, the star Police Chief from the sniper killings in the D.C. area, from publishing his book and retaining his office.

I think this is a good decision. Moose shouldn't be using his position as a public officer for personal gain. But we see it happening everywhere. I think he should be allowed to resign and publish (the country ethics board has not decided what their actions will be).

This stand by the ethics committee and recent firings of football and basketball coaches in Alabama, Iowa, and Washington, in my mind bode well for our country.

Agree/disagree?

Oops, forgot link.
Link

Nice to see you on the right on this issue Eeyore.

I agree with you entirely. I believe any civil servant should not be able to use their public service, while in office, for personal gain above and beyond what is granted by their position. Once out of office is a different scenario. From what I heard on NPR this morning, the ethics board may now be looking at trying to get in on the profits Moose would receive from any movie or book deal. This in my opinion is too far though. If he has resigned then any deal he makes from then out should not be in their realm of influence. If that was the case then think of all the elected officials that have had book deals after they had left office.

Chief Moose (i called him Mr. Moose ) should be allowed to write a book on the incident because it could be a focus for how he and his entire "Sniper Task Force" handled the incident (in other words, a behind-the-scene type deal) and people will understand how they worked to get these dudes.

This would be educational also to others in the Law Enforcement business whenever something like this comes up again

But i can see how him getting profits from this is concerning to the Ethics Board

Oh well, they don't have to worry....he quit

I'm not going to address the issue that moose is just a figurehead who was not out there risking his (pardon my language but) *** NOTICE: THIS WORD IS AGAINST THE RULES. FAILURE TO REMOVE IT WILL RESULT IN A STRIKE. *** during the sniper attacks like so many of the other members of the police departments... (sorry I dont have a very high opinion of the man)

but I am going to say that I think it is outageous that he thought he could make money off the whole thing...I'm glad he resigned but he still should be prohibited from publishing a book or making a movie of it until after the sniper trials are underway and jurors already called.

as for the current state of ethics...I wish more people subscribed to the whole idea of ethics and being ethical

All of you think an employer should own your life experiences as long as you work for them? I do not get it. This is not making a profit at the expense of others. If he was typing away at his word processor during his shift, fire him. If he is at home talking about what happened at work and those words are written down, no foul.

I can see your point and I think in many ways you are correct. My concern with this particular case is that he not release such book/movie etc. until sufficient time after the incident. For one, the trials of the two accused and secondly I think that it only right to take into consideration the feelings of the families of the victims. Those wounds are probably still fresh and to wait a year is not asking much I dont think. I agree now that he has resigned he has the right to publish his book if he wants unless the info he wants to publish is confidential.

I don't see why it's unethical to publish a book because you were in a position that allowed you to have better info. I mean, should someone involved with, say, the Watergate or Monica Lewinsky scandals not be allowed to write a book because they had a position of authority? That's just silly.

Asf for the families, with all respect, no one would be forcing them to read the book.