Cop: "Drink and fight"

Brian O’Neill is a columnist for the Tacoma News Tribune, writing as a cop.  Here’s an excerpt from what he wrote March 17: “It’s Saint Patrick’s Day. Which means that it is time to put on something green, head down to the pub, drink to excess and, if you’re very lucky, get into a fight.”

This is my response to Mr. O’Neill:

Your column entitled “Blue Byline” would serve better as the trash can liner in the cell of the 18-year-old young man now likely to be charged with murder in the death of a his neighbor this past Thursday night.  While some 100-150 underage drinkers looked on, Frank James Motta was thrown to the ground and punched in the head. 

Motta was responding to a request for assistance from the home-owner who lived next door. 

Motta was a 65-year-old Air Force veteran who fought in the Vietnam War.  He was a football coach, retired high school principal, teacher, and volunteer at the Spokane Veterans Affairs Medical Center where he was a patient advocate.

And you, a cop, even tongue-in-cheek, are advocating for partying – and drinking – and fighting.

Motta wasn’t a police officer but he is dead for trying to protect and serve. 

“Instead of fighting a useless battle against a cliché, let me suggest an alternative,” you write. 

Let me do the same. 

Rethink your position and publish your retraction.  And when you do, I’ll be happy to forward your response to the 850 who are receiving this.

David Anderson