November 23, 2016
Teri Knight
KYMN Radio – Community News
Dear Editor:
I would do anything for my friends and family. If they lost a loved one, I would be there for them. If they needed a place to sleep, they could stay at my place. If they were struggling with a personal crisis, I would listen and do what I could to help them through it. And if they needed a ride home after drinking, even at 3 a.m., I wouldn’t hesitate to get out of bed and drive them home.
Friends don’t let friends drink and drive. It’s a saying we’ve heard before but why do people continue to let their friends and family get behind the wheel after drinking? Is it because they don’t want to start a fight? They don’t think it’s their responsibility? They just don’t know what to say?
As an officer, I’ve seen way too much tragedy to care if I’m hurting the feelings of my friends or family. No longer am I scared or hesitant to take away the keys and tell them they are not driving home tonight. I know I could be saving their life or the lives of innocent people who don’t even know my friend or loved one.
The holidays are a time of joy, not a time when we should be mourning a drunk driving tragedy. We all need to step up and help others drink responsibly. Good people make poor decisions. Good people also help their friends when those poor decisions are about to affect others.
We can’t do it alone. This holiday season, help the Northfield Police Department keep our roads safe by getting your friends and family who have been drinking home safely or let them crash at your place. I don’t want to meet them on the road or even worse, be knocking on your door to tell you they are never coming home
Have a safe and happy holiday from all of us at the Northfield Police Department.
Mark Dukatz
Deputy Chief
