Congress MIA on Police Issues + Protecting Police Animals

Plus policing news and a meaningful way for you to help officers

As you read this, policy experts from my independent women’s network are busy creating an action alert in an effort to gain support for the Protect & Serve Act. We’re a network of 32,000 patriotic-minded women who are active in shepherding meaningful change for our nation.

So even if, say, just 5% of our members urge members of Congress to co-sponsor H.R. 743, that’s 1,600 new, bold voices that will have been added to the mix.

And it’s a good thing, because, dear reader, we really need the support. While the issues facing police officers may be important to you and me, law enforcement is not the most popular cause out there right now. Sorry, but it’s best you hear this from me.

It’s not just that policing is a “controversial” issue that attracts negative, and sometimes unwanted, attention. We’re competing with dozens of other issues and causes, some of which (like indoctrination in schools) affect people more viscerally. People also lead hectic lives. Plus they’re distracted by the noise and the next crisis dynamic that has permeated news cycles and social media platforms.

It’s why my partnership with organizations like Independent Women’s Network and others are so critical.

I led with this piece of intel because I want you to know that people care, and that even if it may not feel like it most days, progress is being made.

That said, we still have a lot of work ahead of us.

Case in Point

Here are some of the key congressional police and public safety bills I’m following. Check out the Co-sponsors column. With the exception of H.R. 743 (It has 97 signatories which is great, although it should actually be greater), the number of supporters for each of these bills is anemic.

Granted, some of these bills were introduced just a few months ago. Yet I see other unrelated bills that manage to amass dozens, and even hundreds of signatures within days of introduction.

Do you think this table is representative of a legislative body (excellent exceptions noted!) that supports our nation’s police officers and takes our public safety threats seriously? I certainly don’t.

FYI . . . A new bill (S. 3767) was introduced in the Senate this past week that would “create or enhance penalties for murder and assault committed against a law enforcement officer . . .” As of this writing, there’s not a lot of information about this bill. Once I speak to a staffer for Sen. Tom Tillis (the bill’s author), I should hopefully know more.

ACTION ALERT! Help Lobby for the Protect & Serve Act (H.R. 743)

There have been no new co-sponsors to H.R 743 since my last post. The bill is still stuck in the House Judiciary Committee and has yet to be introduced in the Senate. Until House Committee Republicans prioritize this critical bill, it will remain in limbo.

As of this writing, the following members have yet to sign on as co-sponsors. Would you please support our police officers by urging your representative (if on this list) to co-sponsor H.R. 743?

Republican House Judiciary Committee Members Who Have NOT Yet Signed on as Co-sponsors to H.R. 743

Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-04)

Darrell Issa (CA-48)

Ken Buck (CO-04)

Matt Gaetz (FL-01)

Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

Tom McClintock (CA-05)

Thomas Massie (KY-04)

Chip Roy (TX-21)

Dan Bishop (NC-08)

Victoria Spartz (IN-05)

Cliff Bentz (OR-02)

Ben Cline (VA-06)

Kelly Armstrong (ND-At large)

Barry Moore (AL-02)

Harriet Hageman (WY-At large)

Kevin Kiley (CA-03)

Republican House Judiciary Committee Members Who HAVE Signed on as Co-sponsors to H.R. 743

There are Committee members who have done the right thing. Please take a moment to thank them!

Tom Tiffany (WI-07)

Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05)

Lance Gooden (TX-05)

Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-02)

Troy Nehls (TX-22)

Russell Fry (SC-07)

Wesley Hunt (TX-38)

Laurel Lee (FL-15)

Nathaniel Moran (TX-01)

Taken from a “Dog and Pony Show” presented by the Madison (Wisconsin) Police Department

A State Bill Aimed at Protecting Police Animals

As a life long animal lover (I put my animal advocacy & rescue work on hold to focus on policing & public safety), I was thrilled to hear about a South Carolina bill that would stiffen penalties for harming, mistreating, or killing a law enforcement K-9 dog or horse.

My NPA presser is here if you’d like to read more about it.

A similar bill has recently been introduced in the Kansas legislature, and Florida passed its own version last year.

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of interacting with a police K-9, then you know how lovable most of these pups are, contrary to the image of the militarized automaton. While it’s true that these dogs can be fierce when they have to be, they (and police horses) provide valuable services to our communities.

These dogs also share a deep bond with their human handlers, and when one is killed, it’s devastating to the officer, agency, and even members of the community.

These creatures deserve to be respected on their own merits, and because they’re members of law enforcement who help keep us safe, they deserve added protection.

Props to the legislators who understand this concept.

Policing in the News

Cases of Officers Down Continues Into 2024

There have already been 32 cops shot in January of this year. This figure doesn’t take into account those officers who are stabbed, beaten, spit on, run over by cars, and punched. These are the stories that often don’t make it on to news cycles.

A Continuing Trend: Indicting Cops Who Act in Good Faith

One of the most recent casualties of the war on cops is Terrence Sutton, a Washington, D.C. police officer who is facing a Second-Degree Murder charge (and possible 60-year prison sentence) for attempting to stop a suspect who fled and was subsequently struck by another car. Yes, you read that correctly.

Cowardly Police Chiefs

It’s not just external forces that tank police morale. Often times, the problem stems from departmental politics. Take, for example, the Tacoma, Washington police chief who took it upon himself to publicly belittle his officers.

From Seattle-based journalist, Jason Rantz.

“This week, the Tacoma Police Department (TPD) released the findings of an internal investigation. It cleared the officers of wrongdoing. But Chief Avery Moore, likely fearing the community reaction, released a reactionary statement throwing his officers under the bus.

“Moore implied the three acquitted officers were responsible for Ellis’ death but noted the policy at the time allowed for their actions. He said the policy has since been updated. While he acknowledged the cultural change TPD has experienced, “placing a strong emphasis on fostering inclusivity and pride among all stakeholders,” Moore also cast aspersions against policing and offered a “collective” apology for racist policing that his department didn’t conduct.”

When will police command officers understand that apologizing and kneeling will not do much -if anything- to appease people who dislike what you stand for?

The Demoralization of New York’s Finest

Last month the New York City Council passed the How Many Stops Act, requiring police officers to fill out a form when they interact with civilians. As Heather Mac Donald explains in City Journal:

“If, for example, an officer asks a potential bystander to a shooting if he had witnessed that shooting, the officer will have to complete a form listing the bystander’s race, sex, and age. Are there other potential witnesses in the area who urgently need to be contacted before they disperse? Too bad. Identity-based paperwork comes first.  (If an officer waits to the end of his shift to finish filling out the forms, he will still likely need to have made some contemporaneous record of his encounters.)

“The department’s personnel will spend hundreds of hours a day cumulatively on this bureaucratic task—time diverted from bringing criminals to justice.”

An already understaffed police department is being directed to do more busywork by people who likely have little idea what policing entails. While advocating for the Madison Police Department, I was routinely taken aback at how our city council members, who had little understanding of what police officers actually do, would criticize and attempt to dictate policy.

Some people claim there’s no war on cops. I beg to differ.

As always, I’d love to know your thoughts on this post or any other issue involving our police officers or public safety.

Have a lovely weekend. Best. : )

---

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.