When badges are only good for the ego

When some of us were little, we were so happy when we got one of those toy tin badges upon which was emblazoned "sheriff."

We would pin those badges on our shirts, pull the drawstring on our cowboy hats tight under our chins, strap on our toy six-shooters, and set out to be make-believe marshals in the neighborhood.

"Get out of town before the streetlights come on, all you troublemakers."

It was all great fun. But we outgrew our fascination with being the big tough lawman and went on to other occupations as adults.

But some of us just can't fight off the urge to be wannabe cops. Or otherwise feel important by having a real badge.

The Bensenville Park District is the latest governing unit to issue badges to elected officials. Park board members will be allowed to carry the badges, with instructions that they only be used for identification -- and not to "gain an inappropriate advantage for any purpose."

Such as evading the law, or, we assume, pretending to be the law.

We would hope that these badges are only flashed within these rules.

But there is a dismal history associated with alleged improper display of badges not held by police officers that bears notice.

In January, a surveillance camera captured former Lombard Trustee Steve Sebby, who is now on the Glenbard High School District 87 board, flashing a badge at a local business and demanding that a former political rival's campaign signs be taken down. The signs were later taken down by a man matching his description, but Sebby has denied the entire incident.

Last year, Villa Park Village President Joyce Stupegia admitted that one of her former campaign workers duped her and stole her identity. Among other things, police say he was caught speeding and showed state police an ID badge identifying him as Villa Park's deputy village president, a position that did not exist.

In 2000, Oakbrook Terrace had somewhat of a badge scandal of its own. A former city liquor commissioner was accused of using a commission badge to pose as a police officer. Although charges of disorderly conduct were dropped in this case, the incident prompted the city to pull liquor commission badges at the time.

I'm not sure what we'd use this (the badges) for," said Bensenville Park District Commissioner Tom Earley, who voted against issuing the badges. "When would we need to show this?"

Exactly.

What great public service is being carried out in handing out badges to government officials who aren't in law enforcement, in contrast to the risk for potential abuse of these badges?

It might be good for the ego, pumping up self-importance, flashing that piece of tin. But we don't see how it's good for anything else.

Enough with the badges already. There are enough sheriffs in town.