State representatives have acted quickly to repair a problem created by the Legislature when funds were cut from a psychological screening program for prospective police officers in South Carolina. The $500,000 allocation, inserted in the state budget as an amendment, will help the state determine which police applicants aren't psychologically suited for the job.

A former psychiatrist who administered the tests for several years in the 1990s told our reporters that 30 percent of prospective officers were found to be psychologically "questionable" for police work in the academy's previous screening process. That speaks clearly to the importance of weeding out problem officers, as cited in our recent series "Tarnished badges."

The series detailed the dubious careers of law officers who travel from job to job because of gaps in the system. Its findings also have encouraged Gov. Mark Sanford to designate state Director of Public Safety James Schweitzer to lead a committee with the goal of determining how the problem can best be handled.

In addition, the state Criminal Justice Academy has formed a committee to look at how the personnel history of officers can be better tracked and made available to law enforcement agencies. The academy also will undertake the screening process that it formerly managed until budget cuts closed the program in 2003. The screening process is expected to be under way in 90 days.

And the academy is re-evaluating the certification of several officers identified in our series, to determine if they should be allowed to remain in law enforcement.

In his remarks, Mr. Schweitzer underscored the primary problem cited in "Tarnished badges": "Bad officers are being passed around until it's so bad they are getting indicted. It would be much better if there is an effective system in place."

Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon said one solution is better training of police chiefs and sheriffs in personnel law, so they will be less reluctant to make the full records of problem officers formerly in their service available to other prospective employers. Sheriff Cannon, also a lawyer, would be a good pick for the state Public Safety committee that will explore solutions.

"Tarnished badges" revealed shortcomings in the system that have repercussions when police officers fail to follow established standards of professional behavior. That's a problem for police agencies and for the public they are committed to serve. The law enforcement community should fully support efforts to repair a system the allows problem officers to taint the profession.