Recently Wakulla County Sheriff David Harvey was involved in a car accident, after attending a police accreditation meeting in Tampa.
After hitting the rear bumper of a parked car, which was occupied by a 39-year-old woman and her 13-year-old daughter, Harvey left the scene.
Although Harvey was not asked to take a urine test, according to www.tdo.com, there’s evidence he was drinking alcohol at the Wildwood Country Club before he crashed his SUV.
Sheriff Harvey was charged for leaving the scene of the crash, a second-degree misdemeanor, and could face up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
The charge of hit and run was dismissed and his actions are deemed as “poor judgment” because he failed to notify the authorities at the time of the accident.
However, starting Monday, Harvey plans to suspend himself without pay for a week.
While this story is quite intriguing, the question that I’m sure many are asking, is why Harvey gets a slap on the wrist?
If it were a random citizen, they would be in trouble.
The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Department, ensures it’s citizens that things are beinghandled fairly.
But it took the press to put emphasis on the situation before he publicly apologized to the lady and her daughter for their minor injuries.
As humans, we are not infallible, however, we must be held accountable for our actions.
If the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Department doesn’t handle this situation with equality, then its citizens will start to lose the respect and hope they have for the department.
Letitia Skippings for the Editorial Board.