(Toledo News Now) - City Councilman Larry Sykes crossed a volatile line last month with his accusation of police profiling. This is a serious charge. Racism is ugly and immediately divisive.
Accusations of racial behavior are inflammatory and should never be invoked without cause. A thorough investigation failed to support Mr. Sykes. The police officers involved were publically indicted and their integrity was impugned.
These kind of incidents can blow up quickly. We should be glad that it did not become an incendiary moment. Mr. Sykes played loosely with the facts. He demonstrated a total disregard for his obligations as an elected official. There should have been consequences. Someone, somewhere in the administrative ranks of Toledo should have had the courage to deal with this. It is sad that nobody did.
