Response to Jason Lichty's Keyboard warriors opinion piece
- George Tanguy
- Jun 21
- 6 min read
Let’s break down Tracy Police Chief Jason Lichty’s opinion piece, “Under Attack: Coping With ‘Keyboard Complainers.’”
Chief Lichty begins by explaining that his periodic feature is intended to inspire conversation and answer questions Tracy residents may have. The problem is that many residents do have questions — and many of those questions are the same.
These residents did not all know each other. In many cases, they found each other only after realizing they had similar concerns, similar complaints, and similar unanswered questions about alleged civil rights violations, alleged corruption, and what appears to be a continued disregard for complaints involving Chief Lichty.
Chief Lichty then states that, in today’s society, law enforcement is repeatedly “under attack.” But what many residents are asking for is not an attack. It is accountability.
Link to David Wilson's June 8th 2026 public comment below
That is why I believe David Wilson’s comments during his recent appearance at the Tracy City Council meeting on June 8, 2026, were so important. David came in fearless and focused on clarity, truth, and accountability. He explained the POST process — the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board process — and how complaints involving officer misconduct and licensing violations are reviewed. But as David explained, the process can often shift responsibility back to the department head. - In Tracy, that department head is Police Chief Jason Lichty.
So what happens when the complaint is about the Police Chief himself? What happens when the person expected to look further into the matter is also the subject of the concern? From the outside, it appears to go nowhere. That is why David requested that the City Council bring in an unbiased outside investigative authority.
And what did the Council do?
Jeff Carpenter then said to the council "they could ask questions to himself or to Jason of something he addressed, you can do that the next two minutes.
Jeri Schons Said I thought public comment we did not. ----who also in the past has said to another "There's not much I can do"
David then said "It's fine Ya'll have a good night I've said my peace"
Mayor Pam Cooreman "But wait a minute. Well then how are you supposed to be?
George Landuyt "How are we supposed to address it.
They sat there, as usual, and did nothing.
The Council has authority to administrate and investigation. They know that, but they will continue to do nothing.
This is the same pattern David described when he sat with Mayor Pam Cooreman and explained his situation involving alleged cover-up, harassment, and the assault his child suffered in the Central Park bathroom. Mayor Cooreman’s response, according to David, was that there was nothing she could do because potential lawyers were involved, and that she would pray for him.
One thing many residents believe is this: if that had been one of Mayor Cooreman’s own children, justice would have been swift and immediate. There would have been no sweeping it under the rug. There would have been no silence. There would have been no delay.
David also spoke about his military service and explained that several of his battle buddies are in law enforcement. He made it clear that his issue is not with good police officers. His issue is with officers who, in his view, make good cops look bad.
That statement matters.
Chief Lichty’s opinion piece presents him as one of the good ones. But to many residents who have come forward, the pattern does not match the presentation. There are too many unrelated citizens in Tracy with similar stories. Many of them did not know each other until they became another person with unanswered questions involving Tracy’s law enforcement leadership.
Chief Lichty refers to “keyboard warriors” and suggests they are wrong, misleading, hateful, or close to threatening. But maybe what is really happening is that the pressure is building.
Maybe the skeletons that have been swept into the closet for years are starting to push the door open. Maybe the concern is not about “keyboard complainers” at all. Maybe the concern is that more citizens are finding each other, comparing stories, and realizing they are not alone.
Chief Lichty says he believes in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, including freedom of speech. But many residents believe those words ring hollow when the same citizens feel their rights, complaints, and concerns have been dismissed, ignored, or mishandled.
The people speaking out are not fooled by an opinion piece. They remember the body language during interactions. They remember the dismissive attitude on scene. They remember complaints that seemed to go nowhere. They remember when their concerns felt like they were tossed aside instead of being taken seriously.
David Wilson is right about one thing: we are not afraid.
We are not afraid of Chief Lichty. We are not afraid of a City Council that refuses to act. We are not afraid of a City Administrator who appears unwilling to address the larger pattern. And we are not “keyboard complainers.”
We are residents, witnesses, victims, and concerned citizens who found each other through the fog of failure, silence, and inaction.
Tracy Minnesota Accountability and Corruption has had more than seventeen additional people reach out with similar stories and concerns. This is not one person making noise. This is not a one-time complaint. This is a growing number of people who believe they have been ignored, dismissed, or denied accountability.
Chief Lichty asks, in effect, how to get the “keyboard complainers” to stop.
The better question is this: why did residents ever have to start?
Why did citizens feel forced to organize, speak publicly, document their concerns, and bring these matters to the community? Why did people feel that official channels were not working? Why did people feel that complaints were not being handled properly? Why did so many residents lose confidence in the very system that is supposed to protect them?
Chief Lichty also mentions the supportive comments he has received. That is his right to mention. But let’s also talk about the victim stories coming into our emails. Let’s talk about the phone calls from residents who do not know where to turn. Let’s talk about the people who feel failed by the department. Let’s talk about the citizens who believe they were ignored because they were not politically connected, not part of the right group, or not convenient to protect.
What about them, Chief Lichty?
Or do they not count?
Maybe the next police budget should include a broom, because sweeping matters under the rug appears to be what Tracy residents are tired of seeing.
One thing we do hope is that Chief Lichty continues attending City Council meetings. Because more residents may come forward. More people may use their three uninterrupted minutes to speak directly about what they believe happened to them. More people may point to the oath of office and ask whether it has been honored or carelessly tossed aside.
Imagine the day when 20, 30, or 40 residents come forward. Imagine 20 people each speaking for three minutes. That is an hour of citizens telling their stories, naming their concerns, and making it clear that they expect answers.
We will stand behind David. We will stand behind the next person. And the next. And the next.
Maybe we will bring posters of the victims so the Council and Chief Lichty can see the faces of the people still waiting for justice, answers, and accountability. These are people who continue living with the consequences while officials sit silent and hope the problem goes away.
This did not happen randomly.
This did not happen because people wanted attention.
This happened because of actions, inactions, dismissals, and failures that many residents believe have gone unaddressed for far too long.
Hopefully someday, when Tracy has leadership that truly serves its citizens, the community will have police officers who understand what the people of Tracy have long deserved:
True public servants.
Not excuses.
Not opinion pieces.
Not labels like “keyboard complainers.”
Accountability. Transparency. Equal protection. And justice for every citizen — not just the connected few.
We also had an interesting find while drafting this response.
Mr. Gross is part of the American Bar Association Military Pro Bono Project.
Mr. Gross could have very well had someone reach out to him but since the city of Tracy is his client, he remains silent while a disabled veteran continues to seek justice.
Link to the - ABA Military Pro Bono Project - Below
David Wilson's Go fund me Link Below
Pleas read if you haven't - Recent anniversary of central park Bully incident.
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