Betrayed & Abandoned; an Unholy Alliance; National Police Week

And what helps keep me sane

You may recall that last month, Rochester, New York police officers were publicly scolded by their police chief and the mayor for assisting U.S. Border Patrol officers during an emergency call.

And some wonder why police departments are having difficulty recruiting decent cops?

Weak police command and internal politics are in fact, a leading cause of officer demoralization. Having a police chief who stands strong for officers, including when under rapid political fire, sets the tone for the health of a police department. Without assurances that command staff will have their backs, officers may be more inclined to hesitate in an emergency situation. It’s a scenario that places us all in jeopardy.

Police departments routinely provide mutual aid across jurisdictions -including to federal law enforcement agencies- in times of need. Cops are wired to help others, including fellow officers. It’s a trait we should praise and encourage, not punish.

Yet local governments with self-proclaimed sanctuary status will sometimes shamefully prohibit this cooperation, placing officers and the communities they serve at risk.

Chastising officers for helping federal officers is behavior that shouldn’t be rewarded with taxpayer dollars. It’s why I’m heartened by the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act (H.R. 32 / S. 707), a federal bill introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-1) and on the Senate side by Sen. Jim Risch (ID). It would financially penalize state and local jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agencies.

While this bill isn’t a panacea, it might just prevent some of these shameful acts. If you’re on board with this bill, please ask your federal representatives to support it.

An Unholy Alliance

Betsy McCaughey, former lieutenant governor of New York and member of our police and public safety coalition, shared an article with me this morning that has my blood boiling.

The unholy alliance behind cop killers’ parole: ex-cons, George Soros and two NY governors

Here are some excerpts.

“Convicted cop killers should never walk free, but New York’s soft-on-crime parole board is poised to release its 44th such monster since 2017.

“Also to blame is a network of George Soros-funded pro-crime advocacy groups — call it the decarceration-industrial complex — putting constant pressure on Albany lawmakers.

“One of these groups, Release Aging People in Prison, is run by a man who is himself out on parole after being convicted of the attempted murder of an NYPD sergeant.

“The parole “reform” agenda in Albany is driven largely by ex-cons, bankrolled by extreme leftists.

“RAPP is funded in part by Soros’ Foundation to Promote Open Society ($1.3 million donated to RAPP’s parent organization, in its latest charity filing) and the Soros-affiliated Tides Foundation (more than $1.2 million that same year), as well as the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation and other leftist nonprofits.”

Our public safety crisis and war on cops is, in part, a product of whom we elect. It’s why I’m much more concerned with policy than personality. The decisions politicians make behind closed doors are more telling to me than what they say, or how they look in front of the camera. Anyone can talk a good game; I’m more interested in results.

Please help get the word out by sharing this article with your networks, especially those in New York state.

National Police Week!

We’ve welcomed new members to our coalition, which is reflected on the above updated flyer. Members of our team will be in D.C. all during National Police Week (May 11 to 17 this year) to meet with federal legislators about finally getting pro-police and -public safety bills passed this session. At least several of us will be walking the halls of the Capitol every day that week.

You don’t have to travel to D.C. to make a difference. What we need is for people across the country to call in, send emails, and (if possible) set up meetings with their legislators. In huge numbers. We will have a dedicated page where supporters can send an automated email that takes just a few seconds to complete.

Watch your inbox in coming weeks about ways for you to participate. Please help us get the word out about this important event. We can succeed if people take a few minutes from their day to call or write in.

Now is the time to act and take advantage of this optimal political environment, because we may not (or may) have this opportunity after the mid-terms. We’re still facing an uphill battle, but at least we now have a fighting chance.

Faith and Politics

I keep in front of me that our nation’s problems transcend politics. Our country is in the midst of a serious cultural / spiritual crisis, the kind that destroys civilizations.

Because when 31% to 55% of Americans admit in a survey that political violence is acceptable, it’s safe to say something has gone terribly wrong. This is not normal.

While politics and government are indeed an important part of our lives, reigniting the foundational values that have gotten us through the most challenging periods in our nation’s history is even more dire, IMO. The “simplistic” values, like a focus on the nuclear family, faith, patriotism, academic rigor, and the advancement of independent thought need some serious attention.

It’s a challenging time to be alive. The negativity and chaos that descends upon us almost every day is overwhelming at times.

One thing that helps me keep my sanity is acknowledging that I can’t fix the world’s problems. What I can do is my part, which means focusing on advancing law enforcement and public safety issues.

Developing a strong relationship with God is central to this. I will tell you that my life is better and more meaningful with Him in it.

A prayer can be as simple as asking God to show you how to bless someone’s life. Or giving Him your problems and asking for guidance on how to proceed. Even better: Follow those prayers up with a way to do good, to serve. It may sound simplistic (not everything has to be complicated to be effective), but this formula works, at least for me.

Remember, we’re all in this together. You’re never alone. I hope you find comfort in these words. Please let me know what’s on your mind.

Best. : )

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For the Blue is a solutions-based initiative. I’m just an American patriot asking questions. I don’t work with any political party and I answer to nobody. For me, the health of the nation, due process (including for police officers), the rule of law, and respect for individual liberties, will always transcend party affiliation. I welcome your thoughts, even if you disagree; though personal attacks will be ignored. You can reach me at fortheblue@substack.com.