Neutrality Is NOT a Winning Strategy
How much worse do things have to get for police leaders to take a stand?
More than 70 organizations are standing united in opposition to the Protect & Serve Act, H.R. 743. This alliance, which includes some big names, sent a group letter to Senate Judiciary Committee leadership last year outlining their opposition to the bill.
And our side?
Several prominent policing organizations have indeed expressed public support for H.R.743. Props to organizations like Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), National Police Association, Major Cities Chiefs Association, and Sergeants Benevolent Association for leading the way and standing tall for your cops. Additionally, policy experts at Independent Women’s Network (an organization I’m proud to be an active and investing member of) are working on an action center alert to promote this bill.
Where, I ask, are the others?
The Protect & Serve Act is a reasonable bill that creates a new federal crime for knowingly assaulting a Federal, State, or local police officer. It carries a penalty of a maximum 10-year term of imprisonment and a term of life imprisonment for killing or kidnapping an officer. Of all the similar bills introduced in the 118th Congress, H.R. 743 has the most momentum behind it and the most realistic chance of passage.
You’d think that a piece of legislation designed to send a reverberating message that attacks on police officers won’t be tolerated, would compel every police organization (large and small) to work overtime to promote it. They’re not.
In fact, some policing organizations are staying neutral. They won’t commit to publicly endorsing H.R. 743 or any other police or public safety bill.
None of this is new. Since starting on this path of police advocacy (first as a citizen advocate for the Madison Police Department circa 2016), I’ve noted this dynamic. Several years ago I spoke with the president of a prominent police organization who explained that pushing back against false narratives only made things worse for police officers.
I disagreed with that philosophy then, and I still do. Appeasement, silence, and hoping things will change organically is not -and has not been- a winning strategy. In fact, it’s turned a bad situation into a dire one.
Cops are being shot at and attacked, and are taking their own lives in greater numbers. They fear indictment and other forms of reprisal for doing their jobs in good faith. Our city centers are becoming (or have already become) uninhabitable. We can’t travel freely for fear of being raped, assaulted, mugged, or killed. None of this is normal.
How much worse do you suppose our situation can devolve before more in positions of leadership start standing taller for their officers, and for the citizenry they have vowed to protect?
If you want to know why policing is at a standstill, this is one of the reasons.
Cops deserve better, as do we all.
Legislative Updates
There has been no movement this past week on H.R. 743 or any of the other Congressional bills I’m closely watching.
New Congressional Bill
A new bill called Justice for Fallen Law Enforcement Act (S. 3767) amends the penalties for murdering, attempting to murder, or assaulting a Federal, State, or local police officer. It was introduced this month by Sen. Thomas Tillis (NC) and is co-sponsored by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (TN) and John Cornyn (TX). The harshest of these penalties is a term of life imprisonment or the death penalty.
While I understand the impetus for introducing this bill and thank the senators for crafting it, it’s difficult to see it gaining traction, especially given the controversial death penalty component.
Besides, if a reasonable bill like the Protect & Serve Act is still stuck in Committee, what chance does this new bill stand?
You can read my presser about S. 3767 for National Police Association here.
Florida Police Bill is Progressing
Complaints Against Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers (H.B. 601) is a Florida bill I wrote about for National Police Association this past December.
If enacted, local government units would be prohibited from investigating complaints against police officers and from passing rules or resolutions on police misconduct. This means civilian oversight boards would cease to exist.
There’s been an update. H.B. 601 passed in the Florida House this past week with 87 Yeas; there were 29 Nays. The bill is now in the Florida Senate for consideration.
New Public Safety Bills Introduced in the California Assembly
The California Assembly recently introduced a series of pro-public safety bills. Two that I’m watching . . .
A.B. 3038 would require California schools to hire at least one armed school resource officer. And A.B. 3039 would require that anyone who distrusts law enforcement or the criminal justice system be prohibited from serving as a juror.
Watch as Chief Darren Goodman of the San Bernardino Police Department speaks in favor of newly-introduced California bills.
New Legislative Action Center
Have you had an opportunity to check out my new legislative action center? It contains everything you need to confidently lobby for the Protect & Serve Act and other pro-police bills.
Ineffective Police Leadership: Another Weak Link
Law enforcement is getting attacked from multiple sides, including the press, elected officials, activists, and profiteers. Some of the negativity originates interdepartmentally, from police leadership. The politics present in police departments across the country can be just as -or even more- demoralizing and damaging than external factors.
When a chief is more concerned about public relations than enforcing the law, that’s a problem. When a chief sacrifices a good cop to maintain public perception, that’s a problem. When a chief manipulates numbers to make it look like crime is down when it’s not, that’s a problem.
Given that ineffective leadership is such a huge issue among the rank-and-file, I highly recommend following
for an in-depth look at how police leadership so deeply impacts a department and the public.Also check out this article by
of American Peace Officer. In it, he writes:“Big city mayors don’t want gutsy leadership from their police chiefs, only compliance with their agendas.”
Agreed. Except that I believe this dynamic is also present in smaller police departments.
Sorry to bring faith into the mix, but this rings true:
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. —Matthew 6:24.
In the News
Continued Police Staffing Shortages
The Austin Police Department was reportedly left without any police officers to answer calls in one of the city’s districts for a couple of hours last week.
“Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock tweeted Saturday that an entire sector in East Austin went two hours without a patrol officer assigned to the sector. He said that the department’s backfill shift made up of detectives and specialized units pulling double duty had to provide coverage.”
Governor Jeff Landry recently declared a state of emergency in his state of Louisiana. Per his press release:
“Today, Governor Jeff Landry signed an executive order declaring a State of Emergency due to the police officer shortage across Louisiana. The Louisiana Sheriff’s Association estimates that Louisiana sheriffs’ offices were down approximately 1,800 deputies statewide.”
When Police Can’t Police
It’s not only that staffing shortages have made it increasingly likely that a police officer may not be available in a timely manner. We also need to be concerned with the service we do receive.
I want to emphasize that I put this scenario squarely on the shoulders of police leadership and elected officials.
In a Twitter post, retired NYPD detective Rob O’Donnell says this of a recent incident in New York City where migrants attacked officers as they were attempting to make arrests.
“Sergeant was useless, half the cops present are poorly trained, no one took control. This is not second guessing, this is highlighting deficiencies because officers and bystanders will get killed if this lack of authority is allowed.”
At San Francisco State University, athlete and activist Riley Gaines, who said she was “assaulted & held for ransom through the night by a mob of violent protesters” will receive no justice. In Riley’s words:
“Remember when I was assaulted & held for ransom through the night by a mob of violent protesters at SFSU? The police have finally informed me the case has been suspended as all charges are "alleged" & "unfounded" I guess audio, video, & eyewitness evidence aren't admissible in SF.”
Blessed are the Truth Tellers
People who are committed to seeking and speaking the truth, even if it costs them personally, are uncommon heroes.
In a rebuttal to a civil rights attorney who suggested that crime could be eradicated by changing the definition of crimes, scholar, political analyst, and former Vanderbilt University professor Dr. Carol Swain (who despite being born into poverty, not only survived, but thrived) had this to say . . .
“We need laws to be obeyed, and we need a public that's informed. And under no circumstances should we redefine crime so that it isn't crime," Swain told Fox News. "Are we going to redefine murder? Are we going to redefine rape? No, we don't want to go down that path."
In another story, a Harvard University economics professor who published results that breaks the narrative of racial bias in police shootings, says he was subjected to abuse. Despite this and risking his career, he stood firm to the truth.
“The world-renowned economist knew from comments by faculty that he was likely to garner backlash. Fryer admitted that he anticipated the results of the study would be different and would confirm suspicions of racial bias against minorities. When the results found no racial bias, Fryer hired eight new assistants and redid the study. The data came back the same.”
It’s by seeking the truth that we will solve problems and create a nation where everyone can thrive.
Parting thought . . .
Keeping hope alive is essential. Without it, there’s little reason to work towards solutions. I certainly wouldn’t be wasting my time and resources if I didn’t think our current landscape could be fixed. Having hope, however, isn’t synonymous with denial or delusion, and it’s not a feel-good term I use to pretend we don’t have big problems. My goal is to address the obstacles and grit while demonstrating that we can indeed overcome. I hope I’ve succeeded in both.
Let me know what you’re thinking.
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.
Excellent article! Thanks Paula!
Thank you so much for the mention. Great article again.