Spokane County Sheriff Mark Sterk, who plans to step down at the end of the year, will saddle his successor with a troubling precedent.

Sterk has decided that a brief suspension without pay is punishment enough for the immature and illegal prank three deputies pulled early this month. While on duty, and having just finished with an official traffic stop on East Sprague, the trio faked a pursuit that led them through downtown Spokane and onto North Post where Spokane police officers, thinking the chase was real, threw a spiked strip in the path of an unmarked Ford Mustang and blew one of its tires.

Two plainclothes deputies were in the county-owned Mustang and a uniformed officer in the marked patrol car. Sterk himself called their actions unprofessional and embarrassing, not only to the Sheriff’s Department but to the community.

It was more than embarrassing. Besides damaging both city and county equipment, diverting officers from other duties and potentially endangering any citizens who might have happened by, the stunt was illegal and a blatant violation of the most fundamental expectations society has of its law enforcement officers.

Yes, two of the deputies were cited with negligent driving and may face fines. They will have to make reimbursement for damages to public property. The three deputies’ respective pay losses will range from $1,320 to $4,530.

Sterk says they’ll face stiffer punishment than civilians would have under similar circumstances, but how so? Civilians also have to pay for the damage they cause. Civilians also have to pay fines for traffic violations. Plus, many citizens work for employers who have no tolerance for reckless, juvenile behavior on the job. Many civilians would have been fired.

Not Deputies Samson Palmer, David Ellis and Beau Vucinich, however. They will return to duty after their suspensions.

Saying he’s confident it was a one-time error in judgment, Sterk said of the incident that “valuable lessons” had been learned.

Police and sheriff’s deputies have a vital job. With society’s blessing, they carry firearms and decide when to use them. They drive cars with flashing lights and sirens and can demand that motorists pull over. Lawbreakers need to know the cops are out to thwart them. Law-abiders need to know it, too. Law and order depend on an unmatched level of trust – and trustworthiness.

No doubt there still are lessons to learn for the law enforcement officer who completes academy training and is put on the job. But if it isn’t clear well before then that faking car chases while on duty is unacceptable, perhaps the Sheriff’s Department needs to reexamine its hiring practices.