Colorado woman no longer a cop after she decides not to arrest local editor; he's suspended

Aspen, Colo., police officer Valerie McFarlane lost her job last month after she decided not to arrest one of the local newspaper editors for drunk driving, the competing newspaper reports. "Instead, McFarlane, who was on work-related probation at the time, gave Aspen Daily News Editor Troy Hooper a ride to a residence," writes Rick Carroll of The Aspen Times. Upon arriving at Hooper's home, he and McFarlane began a 26-minute conversation, recorded by the squad car's equipment, during which he suggested he would provide more favorable treatment at the newspaper in exchange for no charges being filed.

Hooper, who covers law enforcement and the courts for the Daily News as well as editing the paper, had written two stories about McFarlane's September suspension. "You have also been fairly or unfairly put in a position," Hooper told McFarlane during the conversation. "Not only am I willing to give you the opportunity to walk away from that, I'll give you a few of those opportunities, I really will." Police Chief Richard Pryor declined to reveal if McFarlane had been fired or left of her own accord, but he did say she should have handled the situation differently because of her history with the paper. The Daily News had no mention of the story on its Web site as of Thursday afternoon. (Read more)

UPDATE, March 19: The Daily News reports in a long story that Hooper has been suspended for two weeks. Ina n apology, Hooper writes, “At the Aspen Daily News, we have always upheld the standard that ‘If you don’t want it printed, don’t let it happen.’ This applies as much to me as anyone.”