"All right, Sheriff, pull over and let me see my license and registration."

From the AP Strange New file, Brown County, Wisconsin Sheriff Dennis Kocken wrote himself a ticket for an unsafe lane change while trying to pace a possibly speeding car ahead of him. "As sheriff, I'm held to the highest standard in law enforcement. How can I hold officers accountable if I don't hold myself accountable?" he said. "I'm satisfied I'm doing the right thing."

Sorry, but I call bullsh*t. Either Kocken is too focused on the letter versus the spirit and intent of the law – issuing a traffic citation is always discretionary on the part of a law enforcement official, and mitigating circumstances are supposed to be taken into consideration – or, more likely, it’s a cheap bit of political grandstanding. As in most American counties, the office of sheriff in Brown County is an elected position.

Back in the day, the occasional “man bites dog” story about some cop giving the mayor or governor a ticket would make the news. No more, I guess. Nowadays, involving someone else in one’s holier or more law abiding than thou gestures runs the risk of having to share the spotlight. If I were the judge in Sheriff Kocken’s case, I’d take him at his word and ensure he really was being held accountable by, oh, say, sentencing him to a bit of remedial driver’s education.