“We need to rebuild the trust in our agencies across the board with our citizens.”

– Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, after firing a jailer for allegedly lying about affairs he had with subordinates, the latest in a series of controversies involving local law enforcement personnel in the Spokane area.

“It has no bearing.”

– Spokane Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch, commenting on the revelation that one of the people selected to perform an independent review of problems in the Spokane Police Department, Don Pierce, had resigned as Boise’s police chief in the wake of a mayoral corruption scandal.

“Today we hurt, and today we mourn, and tomorrow we go back to work.”

– Washington state Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, expressing disappointment in the state Supreme Court’s decision upholding a ban on gay marriage, but promising to introduce legislation in January to overturn it.

“There are many families who are willing to take in one child, but a lot of homes may not be set up to handle a group of siblings.”

– Idaho Department of Health and Welfare spokesman Tom Shanahan, explaining that a growing shortage of licensed foster homes is especially acute when trying to keep brothers and sisters together after removing them from drug-abuse environments.

“My criticism of the way the fire was handled should not have been directed at those who were working hard to put it out.”

– U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., backing away from critical remarks he made during a confrontation with Virginia firefighters who were waiting to board their flight in Billings after coming to his state to battle a blaze.

“It’s two blocks to go to the bank, but 10 blocks to get back.”

– Spokane Valley businessman Dick Behm, quoting an expression that sums up his feelings about the frustrations one-way streets create for people who have to navigate them.

“Every dollar that is wasted on a contract is a dollar less that could be used to make Americans more secure.”

– Former department inspector general Clark Kent Ervin, reacting to a report that found extensive wasteful contracting practices in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.