A probe into why DeKalb Police let County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton leave the scene of an accident after it was discovered she had four outstanding warrants, determined yesterday that three county police officers didn’t follow departmental policy.

“The policy is they should have contacted Gwinnett,” said Shelia Edwards, a spokeswoman for the county CEO. “Essentially they should have not let her go. They should have called to Gwinnett to verify the warrant is valid.”

Under department policy, Assistant Chief F. J. Kliesrath, Capt. T. S. Dedrick and Lt. C. T. Whittington received written counseling for violating department policy, since it was their first offense, Edwards said.

As for what compelled the officers to commit this offense…

Whittington decided not to notify Gwinnett and told the patrol officer to release the commissioner. His decision was based on the facts that the warrants were old, for a nonviolent offense, Sutton was not a flight risk and she “is an elected official in DeKalb County and Lt. Whittington did not want to bring any embarrassment or discredit to her,” according to Miller.

Well, at least there’s some honesty in that statement.  More than I can say for the commissioner.