Jackson action appropriate in cases

Perhaps Dr. Steve Cohen, one of the state's leading authorities on sexual harassment in the workplace, is correct when he says that some people "are going to do what they are going to do regardless of the training and the warnings."

That appears to be what happened in three unfortunate cases involving Jackson city employees this year. Cohen handles the city's sexual-harassment instruction. But despite the training, the videos, the written reminders, two firefighters were accused of sending nude pictures over the city's Internet connection, and the police chief was accused of harassing a female dispatcher.

The evidence was strong enough that the firefighters were fired immediately following an investigation, and the police chief was asked to resign.

The decisive action is reminiscent of a case in Cape Girardeau this year. The police chief called for an internal investigation after an officer was accused of slapping his ex-wife, and he was fired two months before pleading guilty in court.

While an accusation doesn't mean someone is guilty, strong evidence builds community expectations for swift and appropriate action to be taken. The men and women in these positions of public trust must be of the strongest moral fiber.