Court Opinion

ID: 9549737
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:24:16.684197+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:20:51.954479
License: Public Domain

Mallery, J.
(concurring)—In our review of the instant judgment on the pleadings, we need look no further than the sufficiency of the answer to allege a defense. I think it does not allege a defense and that this court should so hold as a matter of law.
The answer admits that the relator was convicted of a willful neglect of duty as sheriff of Snohomish County in *433that he knowingly permitted the keeping of a house of prostitution and the practice of prostitution. His affirmative defense was, inter alia:
“. . . that he faithfully and impartially discharged the duties of his office to the best of his ability and judgment by repeated warnings and surveillance, attempting to close the alleged establishments of prostitution by making it difficult and unprofitable to operate.”
Relator’s surveillance of houses of prostitution and warnings to them, not being a lawful method of law enforcement procedure, did not amount to a performance of duty at all. The test of whether or not an officer performs his duty “to the best of my ability” relates to the method used, not to his degree of success. It was not the relator’s privilege, under his oath of office, to deliberately choose surveillance of and warnings to houses of prostitution as the sole method of performing his duty, because the law does not sanction it as a performance “according to law.” There can be no proper defense predicated upon ability to act where there is an absence of any intention or attempt to act by way of a lawful performance of duty.
I concur in the result of the majority opinion.