Background checking run amok!!

A Rob Briley press release WBIR news report from today shows that EVERYone is doing it ("it" being running illegal background checks on citizens). Well, not exactly. WBIR.com | Knoxville, TN | Third trooper ran background checks:

Another highway patrol officer has been reprimanded for accessing the same state criminal justice computer portal as Lt. Ronnie Shirley, according to a department spokesman.

Tennessee Highway Patrol Sgt. Clifford Babits received a written reprimand for running checks on his wife, Dorothy Babits, who is a Department of Safety employee, and two adult children and his ex-wife, agency spokesman Mike Browning said Tuesday.

. . . .

A third THP officer, Lt. Robert Eckerman, is being investigated for accessing the portal info of his wife, son and ex-wife. Eckerman's attorney says his client believes the investigation is retaliation because he was the officer who started the Shirley investigation after discovering his information had been accessed.

This reminds me of the common misuse of crime statistics, particularly those regarding homicide. Comparing a guy who ran an unauthorized background check on his wife to what Briley's client, Lt. Ronnie Shirley, is accused of doing is comparing apples to oranges. Most Tennesseans need not be worried that Babits' or Eckerman's conduct.