Point of No Return?; A State's 'Back the Blue Act' Becomes Law; Progress Made on Federal Police Wellness Bill
Plus a Soros district attorney at it again and some encouraging news
There is no way I’d invest time, energy, and resources on police and public safety advocacy if I didn’t believe our situation could be rectified. This is not a profit center for me, and I have no (hell, no!) political ambitions or illusions of becoming an influencer.
While I remain hopeful, I also know we’re in deep trouble; and I’m not alone in expressing this.
Law enforcement professional
, founder of American Peace Officer, recently penned an eye-opening article that depicts our current public safety landscape. If this doesn’t set off alarms for people, I’m not sure what will.
Why We’re Still Hanging On
One reason our country hasn’t completely fallen off the cliff, I believe, is because of the thousands of people (advocating on a number of issues) who refuse to remain silent.
If you’ve ever thought about getting involved, whether in police advocacy or another pressing issue facing our country, now is the time.
Each one of us is called upon to use our unique gifts to serve our country. What are your unique gifts and how can you use them to do good?
You don’t need to be perfect or have everything figured out right now. Just start somewhere, anywhere. If you ever need a sounding board or ideas on how to help make a difference, I’m an email away.
Because from where I sit, we have two options. We can speak out passionately for what’s right (peacefully, lawfully, judiciously, and armed with the facts, of course) or get rolled over.
It’s really as simple, and as complicated, as that.
SIGNED INTO LAW! Tennessee Back the Blue Act (H.B. 1881 / S.B. 2062)
This bill, signed into law by Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee, strengthens the penalties for assaulting an officer of the law. Offenders face a $10,000 fine and a minimum sentence of 60 days in prison.
This needs to happen in every state! I met with a Wisconsin state senator last year to get a similar bill drafted (modeled after Florida’s Combatting Violence, Disorder and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act) and for now at least, it’s on hold.
If you'd like to lobby your state reps, I have some tips to share. Just let me know.
PASSED U.S. HOUSE! Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act (S. 3522 / H.R. 7581)
A bill that would expand LEOKA data to better understand factors involved in the rise of violence against cops, passed the House with 356 YEAs; there were 55 NAYs.
Take Action!
See how your congressperson voted here.
YEA vote? Please say thanks.
NAY vote? Ask for the reasoning behind this vote. You can say something like Why are you opposed to a bill that could potentially prevent assaults on officers?
If you receive a reply, would you kindly forward it to me? I’d like to keep track.
With so much negativity dominating the news cycle (including the continued assaults and ambushes on police officers), I wanted to begin with a couple of positive stories.
Hope for the Future
In a Cleveland neighborhood, two young boys started a lemonade stand to raise funds for a fallen Cleveland police officer’s family.
There really is good in the world. : )
Cops and Pups
A few days ago, Bradenton (Florida) officers saved the life of a poor pup who had been locked in a hot car.
This story is not an anomaly. Cops regularly intervene to save animal lives. It’s who most cops are, not just what they do. They’re not the enemy.
Soros District Attorneys in Action
In a chilling report from Philly Crime Update.
“ . . . If was shortly after that Pfeffer shot Sgt Fitzgerald. The officer then lay on the ground on his back, severely injured. Miles Pfeffer then stands over Sgt Fitzgeralds body and fired more shots into his head, killing him in the middle of the street.”
Yet Soros-funded Philadelphia district attorney Larry Krasner won’t even entertain the idea of issuing the highest possible penalties for this heinous crime. Read more about this case from Gionno Caldwell here.
Misguided Platitudes?
The New York Police Department is changing the slogan on their squad cars from Courtesy, Professionalism, Respect to Fighting crime, protecting the public. It’s estimated that it will cost $1,390 per squad car, though reports have been mixed.
Based on what I hear from The Finest Unfiltered -a podcast run by two former NYPD cops- it seems the Department has problems that transcend surface messaging.
Why is there a need to burden taxpayers? The services that officers provide for their communities should speak for itself.
As criminal offenders escape consequences, police officers are increasingly being indicted -and even criminally charged- for using necessary force in accordance with their training and the Constitution.
One of these officers is decorated Kansas City detetctive Eric DeValkenaere. His only opportunity left for freedom rests with a full pardon from Missouri’s Governor Michael Parson.
Please don’t look away! I encourage you to read Eric’s story, then call Gov. Parson asking him to issue Eric a full pardon. Or sign this automated form from Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund.
I’d like to share a passage from Blessed in the Mess, a book I’m reading by Joyce Meyers. Given the turmoil in our country and the world, I thought this would be appropriate.
“We don’t need to worry about all the evil and people who do evil in the world, because they won’t last. We should simply trust God and keep doing what is good — and we will enjoy safety and blessing.”
Even if you’re not a person of faith, these words can be impactful. One doesn’t have to believe in a Higher Power to understand that the quest for power, control, and wealth at any cost leads to suffering on a grander scale.
Becoming so distraught that we become emotionally incapacitated, however, is not a solution. To overcome our current state of discontent we must stay the course, even when things feel hopeless; continue to search for, and tell the truth; and avoid reverting to the same level of pettiness, underhandedness, and callousness that we resent in the people who are causing harm. It may not seem like it right now, but it’s goodness that will emerge.
In other news, I just finished up a deep dive report for IWN’s new police and public safety action center about how the crime statistics we’re being fed are often misleading. Though I knew some of the reasons for this going in, I didn’t realize the extent of the distortions. More on this topic in future issues.
With that, I hope you all have a fantastic weekend ahead.
Best, as always. : )
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.
Thank you for the mention. Great article!