During his news conference, King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg became a “spin doctor.” He mentioned the word “malice.” We all define malice in different terms. For him to charge Seattle Police Officer Ian Birk with a homicide, Satterberg needed evidence of malice or bad faith. Both of these conditions were found with a dead man lying on the sidewalk.
The woodcarver had no intention of harming Birk. Was Birk in harm’s way? The guy was wearing a bullet-proof vest, and a gun that was locked and loaded. You bet there was malice.
Seattle Police Chief John Diaz will conduct a departmental investigation into Birk’s conduct. Nothing more will happen to Birk. Diaz had the opportunity to fire Birk before he resigned. However, Diaz protects his own kind first. Had he fired this cop, Birk would lose all of his retirement benefits and pension (part of the labor agreement). Once fired, you lose all vested benefits. When you resign, you keep it all. Diaz just didn’t have the heart.
Bruce A. Ferguson
Snohomish
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