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Boot Camp Bush Leaguers, Begone

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 4, 2008

If ever two officials deserved to be booted from the public dole, it's former Bay County Medical Examiner Charles Siebert and former Florida Department of Law Enforcement chief Guy Tunnell.

Both men betrayed their public trust and embarrassed their professions after Martin Lee Anderson died in a Panhandle boot camp in 2006.

Last week, finally, Siebert was shown the door, though not because Bay County leaders wanted it so. Rather, the state medical examiner's commission grew tired of his unwillingness to submit his work for outside scrutiny. Commission members rightfully decided that Panhandle citizens deserved a more credible physician.

Siebert, you may recall, transferred Anderson's body to Bay County, though the teenager died in Pensacola and the autopsy should have been conducted there. Siebert's role in trying to limit outside scrutiny of the teenager's death was shameful.

Just as he departs comes word that Tunnell - who undermined FDLE's integrity by sending Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen supportive messages during the death investigation - is considering another run for Bay County sheriff.

Tunnell - asked to leave FDLE by former Gov. Jeb Bush - has served as Bay County sheriff once before and built the boot camp where Anderson died. Since leaving Tallahassee, he has been an investigator in the local state attorney's office at a much-inflated salary, another insult to the public.

Tunnell should join Siebert in exiting the public stage.

Florida wants to put this sad chapter to rest but can only do so when those who betrayed the public trust no longer claim the spotlight.

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