CHILLING: Partly pregnant

Doug Bressie’s ordeal with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Child Protective Services (CPS) is frightening. Assuming that everything reported is true then there appears to be prima facie evidence that CPS overstepped its boundaries and CPS employees behaved criminally.

Everyone should realize that an agency that can abuse a citizen and then use taxpayer money to buy their way out of responsibility is a canary in the mineshaft. Confidentiality requirements keep CPS from commenting, but they can say that they admit no wrong-doing. Further they “…agreed to settlement merely to avoid protracted litigation.” The agency said, “it’s important to note that the settlement signed by the plaintiffs stipulates that the settlement is a compromise of a doubtful and disputed claim, and that the payment is voluntary and not to be construed as an admission of liability on the part of the Department.”

As a taxpayer, I am prepared for an agency to respond to a liability suit and fight to the end if they are not guilty. I am not happy at all with an agency that they will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars merely to avoid prolonged litigation of a doubtful and disputed claim.

Cause your employer adverse publicity and cost the company $350,000 and you won’t even have time to empty your desk. Malfeasance of a public official is the willful and intentional action that injures a party. Just as there are no partly pregnant females, there are no partly guilty government employees who abuse citizens. Malfeasance is a high crime of the most insidious nature that destroys respect for government.

BOB HUNT

Post Falls