Are there certain things you cannot say?
Not a tongue twister, or somehow being forbidden from uttering a phrase, but, you know… polite society being what it is, there are words you shouldn’t say. Personally, I know there are words I will not say. The list of the verboden only gets longer when we are talking about a professional situation.
So, what’s the deal with Pike County, Kentucky, circuit judge Steven D. Combs?
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He has let some gems fly — he allegedly called the mayor a “fish face,” the city commissioner was termed a “coke head,” while “dumbo” was reserved for the city manager. Other insults he reportedly liked to throw around include, “coward,” “prick,” and “retarded.”
And that’s before Judge Combs turned his attention to the police.
It seems our friendly neighborhood judge was not a fan of law enforcement. As the Associated Press reports:
The allegations against him include phone calls to Pikeville police — one in December in which Combs is accused of contacting a captain to demand an investigation of automated calls he received regarding drinking and driving during the holidays.
Combs then said the next officer who pulled him over would get a “bullet in the head,” according to the commission.
When confronted about the allegations, Combs replied: “I’m elected by the people and not pieces of trash like you all,” the commission had said in outlining the allegations. He then referred to the Pikeville Police Department as a “bunch of thieves,” it said.
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I know there have been lots of reasons to criticize the police recently, but threatening to kill police officers — over a drunk driving stop — hardly seems judicial.
The result of these allegations has been a temporary suspension by the Judicial Conduct Commission, with pay, while the allegations are investigated. Such a suspension is rare, and the hearing regarding the charges is set for September 21.
Let’s see if Judge Combs can hold his tongue till then.
Pike County judge gets rare suspension with pay over allegations of name-calling, other offenses [Lexington Herald-Leader]
Kentucky Judge Accused of Threatening Police Is Suspended [Associated Press via ABC News]