Jan 19, 2015 2 min read

Congratulations to Washington County Common Pleas Court Judge Valarie Costanzo for refusing to buy into the special deal-making at the county courthouse.

I’m writing in regards to the deal District Attorney Gene Vittone and his office came up with for Washington city police officer Joshua Rush, who is accused of tipping off a prostitute about an undercover sting operation. If Costanzo accepted the plea bargain, which would have resulted in Rush receiving one year of probation and resigning from the police force, it would have basically been a slap on the wrist.

It is deals like these that so anger a frustrated public, which sees one-sided justice for those who have power, such as a police officer, and a throw-the-book-at-them attitude toward most other people in Washington County. The district attorney, his staff, the adult probation department and some of the county judges continue to aggravate the general public with their games. They think we don’t see the double standard of justice. But we do. That is why, in part, a backlash developed involving law enforcement.

Costanzo stood up to the game playing. Vittone and others who are supposed to enforce the law in Washington County need to start treating everyone equally.

Bob Sabot

North Franklin Township

Sabot is a former supervisor in North Franklin Township.