Those charged with reputation management know they are one bad headline away from headaches and sleepless nights. However, there are those rare occasions where you catch a lucky break instead of a media bullet.

(Think “The Matrix.” When the bullets come so slowly that you have time to manuever and react accordingly.)

The spokespeople at MacDill Air Force Base are working on that borrowed time as we speak. This news article out of Tampa is getting national attention for the stupidity of the criminal:

TAMPA – One minute a pair of Tampa police officers were trying to catch a couple of loose dogs Tuesday morning, the next they were fielding a unique request from a man.

Would they test his crack pipe to make sure he was getting the real thing? According to an arrest affidavit, Phillip Williams wasn’t convinced he was being sold actual crack cocaine. So about 11:15 a.m., he approached Officers Wayne Easley and Gary Filippone to verify he was getting real drugs.

Reporters and editors love “dumb criminal” stories, because they have that “Hey Martha” factor that rewards readers. In this case, the “Hey Martha” moment trumped the real question which is lurking just two paragraphs down:

The officers tested the pipe, which, sure enough, had cocaine residue. Williams, who is listed on jail records as a security worker at MacDill Air Force Base, was arrested.

Okay, MacDill Public Affairs Office — you’re on the clock. How are you going to handle the questions about background checks for your staff? How are you going to answer questions about drug screening? What sorts of “Homeland Security” issues are potentially compromised here?

Is Williams a former employee? Is he telling the truth? How much of his personnel record do you release? What do you instruct your people to say if pressed, asked, or casually quizzed?

MacDill today. It might be you tomorrow.

And the bullet with your name on it will likely have more juice coming out of the barrel.