The first Alaska policeman Sarah Palin had serve at her pleasure was Irl Stambaugh, one of the finest police officers I've had the honor to work with. She didn't trust him. She got rid of him.The next police officer to serve at her pleasure ended Stambuagh's and former Wasilla mayor John Stein's policy of funding all criminal investigations done by the WPD, by cutting funding for forensic examinations of sexual assault victims out of the WPD budget.
Sarah Palin trusted Charlie Fannon, Stambuagh's replacement, at least when it came to working for her. When he got in the way of her political ambitions, though, in his run for Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor, Sarah had second thoughts.
The next public safety chief to serve under her pleasure was Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.
She didn't trust him. She got rid of him. The next public safety chief to serve under her pleasure was Chuck Kopp. He failed most tests, and within a couple of weeks, she got rid of him. At last Chuck got a payoff.
The next public safety chief to serve under her pleasure is, uh, he's, uh........ Is anybody surprised this guy keeps a low profile?
This morning, one of Alaska's most respected legal experts, Steven Branchflower, is expected to issue the report that has resulted from a 12 to zero recommendation by the Alaska State Legislature's bipartisan Legislative Council, to determine whether or not Monegan's removal as commissioner was biased or violated Alaska statutes or administrative policy.
We'll see by late Friday, whether or not the McCain-Palin "Truth Squad" can somehow keep the public from knowing the results of Branchflower's efforts. Today may be a day that goes down, etched in dog lipstick somewhere, in Alaska history.
One question I haven't seen asked yet - maybe I missed it - is, "What has Todd's role been in these continued bad relationships with chiefs of pubic safety entities under Palin family control?"