It's certainly not news that the Pennsylvania State Police along with the Governor's Office are rife with corruption. It's not news that the State Cops make abuse of authority their standard, everyday mode of operation. What else would bullies do? But now, a ranking state cop with an impeccable service and educational record has brought suit against several of his superiors. Darrell G. Ober, a captain in the State Police force has filed an action in federal court alleging a pattern of constitutional violations by Colonel Paul Evanko,1 the self-important martinet who runs the force, Mark Campbell, the Assistant Chief of Staff for the notorious Governor Thomas Ridge,2 a guy you wouldn't trust with the rent money and other ranking State Police officials. The allegations against Evanko and company are detailed in the complaint filed against them by noted Harrisburg attorney Don Bailey,3 a contender to run for governor. Briefly, the allegations are that Evanko along with Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Coury, Lt. Colonel Joseph Westcott and Lt. Colonel Hawthorne Conley who "assisted Evanko in carrying out the plan to injure" Captain Ober, took improper retaliation against Captain Ober over a corruption investigation. Special Agent Ralph Kush appears to have informed Captain Ober that an FBI investigation of corruption was being conducted over conduct by high officials in the State Police and the Governor's Office. The Captain is said to have assisted the FBI in its investigation. The targets of the investigation may have included Evanko, Campbell and the others. Because Captain Ober kept the investigation secret and didn't warn Evanko, et al., Evanko is accused of retaliating and trying to ruin Captain Ober. After the investigation was underway, "it was learned that the investigation may have been compromised even before [Captain Ober] was informed by Agent Kush." Captain Ober "believes that a real possibility still exists that the corruption investigation ... was truncated or otherwise limited because of" the State Police brass. The suggestion is that others, including the top management in the State Cops may have been involved. Not to worry, the matter was whitewashed. Governor's office slithered away scot-free. The cops and "Fuhrer" Evanko, who is claimed to possess a cult-like fetish for personal loyalty and obedience, is accused of using his position and authority to violated Captain Ober's rights. Personally, I, for one, love it when the state cops bicker among themselves. That's that much time they're leaving the rest of us alone. But, by any measure, Paul Evanko K/B> is a man who is so obsessed with police power that he should be replaced. The suit against him details an incident in which he even retaliated against the FBI agent saying "I will have [FBI Director] Louie Freed on the phone tonight and have the agents involved transferred by tomorrow."4 What would happen to an ordinary citizen like you or me if "Fuhrer" Evanko flew into a snit about us? Footnotes: 1 Colonel Paul J. Evanko, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110, 717-783-5558. 2 Governor Thomas Ridge, 225 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120, 717-787-2500. 3 Don Bailey, 4311 North Sixth Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110, 717-221-9500. 4 "Agent Ralph Kush was quickly transferred."