Every time I read a story like this one, it makes me shake my head and wonder why more people don’t understand the value of a simple apology.

It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve allegedly done: Saying you’re sorry will almost always help.

As a newly minted lawyer, I understand that when you’re dealing, say, with a criminal proceeding, you certainly don’t want to admit guilt. But that’s where so many folks get confused. Apologizing doesn’t necessitate a signed-and-sworn confession.

Here’s an example of something Councilor Minton-McNeill could have said after her arrest to prevent Councilor Coleman from being able to go on the offense in the aforelinked story: “I want to apologize to my constituents and to the police officers involved in this incident. I strongly support law enforcement, and we all owe a debt of gratitude to those who patrol our streets and keep us safe. This incident was an unfortunate misunderstanding, and I want to make sure those Indianapolis residents I am proud to serve know that I am sorry this happened and that I am committed to making sure their voice is heard in City Hall.”

No admission of guilt. No details about the “this” that happened. Just an apology and a little reinforcement of an overall commitment to public service. Easy.

I’m using Minton-McNeill as an example, but this duck-and-cover tendency afflicts elected officials on both sides of the aisle. It’s fairly simple to talk about what you would do if something bad happened to you, but when something bad actually does happen, it’s human nature to clam up.

I’ve noted dozens of times that we are a forgiving society, and it doesn’t take much to convince us to forgive. Everyone makes mistakes, and we instinctively don’t want to hold other people to a standard of perfection that we ourselves could never attain.

The most effective apologies happen quickly, immediately restoring trust by inviting the public a little bit closer to the situation at hand, but it’s never too late to ask for a little forgiveness. Politics is all about perception, and while addressing the way others see you can, at times, be humbling and painful, it’s also necessary if you want to maintain long-term credibility.