Doug Clark: WSP’s bumbling warrants apology to firefighter

Is there anything wimpier than a wimp with a badge?

Jeff DeVere, to be specific.

The Washington State Patrol captain appeared at a press conference Tuesday to clear a Spokane firefighter of allegations that he purchased kiddie porn.

Yet while acknowledging the rough time Todd Chism has gone through, DeVere couldn’t quite find the guts to do the right thing and issue a formal apology.

Pathetic.

OK, Captain. If you won’t man up, I will.

Todd, I’m sorry.

I’m sorry your name was smeared.

I’m sorry about the anguish your family endured.

I’m sorry for thinking the worst about you.

I guess I foolishly assumed our state law enforcers would never pinch a citizen on such a reputation-ruining beef without having more of an airtight, dead-bang case.

Jan. 29 must have been the bleakest day of Todd Chism’s life.

The firefighter was arrested after a WSP task force searched his home and seized his computers.

No child pornography was found.

And now – three months of twisting in the wind later – Chism has been exonerated.

The WSP concluded he was the victim of some unknown piece of scum who used the firefighter’s ID and credit card.

The prosecutor overseeing the case has declared that Chism will not be charged.

“We did our job, and we did it in good faith,” said DeVere in a story about the press conference that appeared on the front page of Wednesday’s Spokesman-Review. “I would not want to be the Chisms right now. We acknowledge the difficulty the Chisms have had during this time.”

Translation:

“Yes, we screwed you over and made your life a living hell. But, hey, all’s well that ends well.”

It’s just not enough.

DeVere should be petitioning Spokane to hold a “Todd Chism’s Not A Perv Day.”

He could also order John Sager to bend over and let Chism issue a few swift, satisfying kicks to the cop’s behind.

Sager is the state patrol sergeant who was reassigned partly due to his less-than-awesome performance on the Chism case.

Hey, I’m a realist. I know mistakes happen.

Sometimes the airline sends your baggage to Denver when you’re Chicago-bound.

Sometimes you order a cheeseburger no onions and the thing comes back loaded.

Sometimes a city official does something that makes sense.

But there’s no room for the “oops factor” when it comes to child sex crimes.

Tarring someone with kiddie porn or pedophilia is the kiss of doom for anyone, let alone a guy who gets paid to protect the public.

Frankly, I’d rather face a grave-robbing rap.

And don’t kid yourself. Being cleared isn’t an end-all.

Chism will never be able to entirely rid himself of this stain. There will always be a sliver of doubt lurking in the back of every mind.

Did the cops miss something?

Did Chism get away with it?

Is there more to this story than we’ve been told?

Suspicion is an incurable disease.

No wonder Chism supporters are urging their man to take legal revenge.

“Todd, I hope you and your family sue the hell out of the WSP,” stated a recent post on a Web site.

Chism can certainly try. Unfortunately, trying to recover could be a costly, frustrating proposition.

Law enforcement agencies have tremendous latitude when it comes to wrecking a citizen’s life.

Squeezing the WSP for damages could be impossible. Chism may be better off trying to collect something that is only highly improbable.

Like getting a ranking member of the WSP to say the words “I’m sorry.”