A Florida municipal employee could be fired from her job as a result of what appears to be a feces-related revenge incident.

Shannon Do Coughlin, an economic development specialist at the city of Pinellas Park, is alleged to have stolen two cell phones from her former boyfriend's car. One phone belonged to him and one to his current girlfriend. Coughlin's former boyfriend called the cops accusing his ex of theft, and demanded she return the phones. She did so. Soon after, the chap opened the mailbox to find the phones wrapped in a blue plastic shopping bag -- covered in feces of undetermined origin.

Coughlin, who in her work for the city often appears on television during council meetings, admitted to the theft, saying, "I took the phones because he hurt me." According to the police report, though, she "did not comment on the feces." In addition to theft, she was charged with burglary, grand theft, and criminal mischief.

After the incident, she was suspended from work. Apparently, such behavior -- whether substantiated or not -- is regarded as conduct unbecoming a person whose role in the community commands such respect.

But should such an incident have any bearing on Coughlin's ability to do her job? (Pardon the expression.) It might in Coughlin's case -- it seems that her job requires a squeaky clean public image that must be preserved at all costs. You have to be a saint! According to Tim Cadell, the Pinellas Park spokesman: "Ultimately, anything could be (terminative) because it comes under that catchall of not being able to perform your duties." (Great choice of phrase there, Tim -- who said bureaucrats don't have a sense of humor?)

Granted, getting your stolen cellphone returned covered in droppings is literally a pretty shitty thing to happen to you. But what did the guy do to deserve it? How did HE hurt her? Any reasonable person would resort to feces only, one hopes, in dire circumstances. Was he a violent bully? Did he slash her tires or sign her up to a hardcore porn text messaging service?

Then again, perhaps she is an unreasonable person who overreacts. Maybe they just had a few too many arguments and she went all Glenn-Close-in-Fatal-Attraction on him. Who knows? With only one source available on Google News at the time of writing, the circumstances are about as clear as the water in the bowl after a bout of the squirts.

I'll keep you abreast of any developments as they arise; but for now, feel free to ponder this interesting case. Acceptable retribution, or an open-and-shut mailbox of turd terrorism? Discuss.