COMMENTARY – A casual remark by a public official could lead to a disturbing trend if allowed to continue. Green Tree Police Chief Robert Cifrulak, in discussing a series of rock-throwing incidents along the Parkway West, joked that “They should sign him up for the Pirates” because of the accuracy of the vandal’s throws.While we admit his remark is funny, that type of comment is our stock in trade. If public officials start making wisecracks or, worse, start making fun of themselves, this news source will dry up. Several columnists at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will also suffer if they have nobody to mock.
Public officials should not be sitting around trying to think of funny things to say; that is best left to the professionals at Carbolic Smoke Ball. We urge Chief Cifrulak and all other office holders to go back to taking themselves too seriously. We don’t try to do your jobs, so don’t try to do ours.
