Can’t drop warrior’s burden

Bradley Lavite went off the rails in March, having an episode that left his wife getting an order of protection, the window kicked out of a police cruiser and his employer, Madison County, afraid to let him back in the building.

Lavite was a veteran with a distinguished combat service record in Kuwait, Fallujah and Baghdad. He served his country for 20 years in the Army Reserves.

The episode was apparently related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. His medications have been regulated and a psychiatrist says he’s fine now.

Yet Madison County is not sure he should return as the superintendent of the Madison County Veterans Assistance Commission. County Administrator Joe Parente said there’s an obligation to protect the county workers and the public.

Parente’s right.

We live in an age when sometimes the people going off the rails leave bodies in their wake. How many times have we seen the shooter’s friends and family saying there were signs, but that they didn’t take them seriously?

Is a pill and a single doctor’s opinion enough to ensure a guy deserves to return to his public job? Those seem like thin insurance.

Lavite was Illinois’ veteran of the month. He teaches Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Reserve Officer Training Corps. He sounds like a good guy.

But sometimes you can’t undo what is done. Sometimes you just get one chance. Sometimes you are again called upon to put service above self, and move on.

This story was originally published July 20, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Can’t drop warrior’s burden."