The Perfect Justification for Unethical Conduct
Almost three years ago, I wrote <a href="http://www.cityethics.org/node/289">a blog post</a> about the
scandal that rocked my town, North Haven, CT. Since then, one of the two arrested department
heads, the finance director, was given accelerated
rehabilitation (lenient probation) because he turned state's evidence.
The other department head, and his wife, who was his assistant, spent
years delaying trial, and then also asked for accelerated
rehabilitation. They had been charged with embezzlement, larceny,
forgery, and conspiracy.<br>
<br>
According to <a href="http://www.theday.com/article/20100128/NWS01/301289696">an
article in the North Haven <i>Courier</i></a>, the department head's attorney
argued, "We had an analysis done that shows the Ierardis saved the town
$207,000 by not claiming pensions for three years [this is before the
arrests; they immediately retired after being arrested]. They continued
to
work and saved the town considerable money. We
are not conceding that they did anything wrong. The amount they were
alleged to have stolen is small potatoes by comparison."<br>
<br>
Small potatoes, by the way, is $142,000, according to a forensic audit (although the amount in the charges was far less).<br>
<br>
This is an ethically unacceptable argument, but one that sadly reflects the
thinking of many officials who take or misuse city property. When you
see the world as a balance sheet, and you can say to yourself that
you've given more than you've got (which of us does not feel that
way?), you can feel you have the right to take what you're not offered
without feeling guilty. It's the perfect justification for unethical conduct.<br>
<br>
Responsible government officials and employees, on the other hand, realize that life is not
a balance sheet, and instead take pride in what they've done for the community.<br>
<br>
If you can make this balance sheet argument before a court of law, you
can certainly make the argument to yourself. And for this official and
his wife, it worked. They were given accelerated rehabilitation this
week. No admission of guilt, no trial, no jail time and, in the future,
no criminal record.<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
<br>
---