Inspector Clouseau, er, Chris Hargett

Once again, the citizens of Russellville are safe from 13 year-old boys, thanks to Police Chief Chris Hargett. It seems Hargett has arrested a young middle school student and turned him over to the US Secret Service for manufacture and possession of a counterfeit ten dollar bill. Hargett has suggested this boy may be part of a larger ring that has in recent weeks passed two other bills of larger denominations.

While this youth's actions are hardly commendable, the appropriate action in this case may have been speaking with the child's guardian/s, followed by in-school suspension. The child obviously deserved a stern and memorable reprimand, but arrest?

You may remember that Chris Hargett, Russellville police chief since 2004, failed to be reappointed on the city council's first vote late last year. Councilman Lanny Hubbard voted against Hargett based on his cowboy form of law enforcement. Hargett was reappointed on the second vote, over Hubbard's objections.

It seems the city of Russellville may also be facing a lawsuit over its handling of a drug bust late last year. Hargett has contended that innocent bystanders are collateral damage in his war on drugs. Perhaps the best way not to become part of Hargett's collateral damage is to avoid Russellville altogether and spend your shopping dollars in Colbert and Lauderdale Counties.


What's up with this: Last week saw more state workers on and around O'Neal Bridge--too bad none of them was painters.