There has been a recurring theme in the local news lately ó law-enforcement officers gone bad.

In the most notorious local scandal, two former Buncombe County Sheriffís deputies were arrested by federal officials recently, charged with assisting an alleged multi-million-dollar illegal video gambling operation.

Then there was the evidence room of former Sheriff Bobby Medford, which, following a state audit, was found to be missing large amounts of drugs, money and rape-evidence kits.

Then there was the recent case of the deputy who decided to take matters into his own hands when one of his National Guard buddies told him of a West Asheville couple that was flying the American flag upside down.

The deputy went, apparently without authorization, to the coupleís home and charged them under an antiquated statute that has been clearly deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Sheriff Duncan said the deputy probably shouldnít have been there in the first place and an investigation is pending.
So what do you do when those charged with enforcing the law go beyond the law themselves?

Perhaps Buncombe County could take a tip from Bangkok, Thailand, which has implemented a new form of discipline for wayward officers ó the Hello Kitty badge of shame!

Starting last week, officers in the cityís Crime Supression Division who get caught committing misdemeanors or who are habitually late for work will have to wear a pink armband emblazoned with Hello Kitty, the Japanese cartoon icon that embodies all things cute.

Explaining the move, Pongpat Chayaphan, the divisionís acting chief, reportedly said, ìKitty is a cute icon for young girls. Itís not something macho police officers want covering their biceps.î

We couldnít agree more.

Granted, the charges against the former deputies in the gambling case warrant a more serious punishment if they are convicted.

But in the case of the deputy who arrested people for exercising their constitutionally protected right to free speech, it might be a humbling experience to have to express his soft, fluffy side.

One can just imagine what the guys at the National Guard would have to say about it.