The Influence of Social Justice Cops; Citizen Ride-Alongs; Giglio Lists
And some positive news: an LAPD officer is finally cleared!
Years ago, before police advocacy was even on my radar I had called the local police, concerned about a rumored home robbery in the area. All I wanted was the facts and to be assured that the situation was under control. Nothing out of the ordinary; or so I thought.
After answering my questions, this officer proceeded to tell me how the people who committed the robbery must be experiencing personal hardship.
I was stunned. It wasn’t just that these unsolicited words seemed unusual coming from an officer of the law, someone tasked with fighting crime. It was also his tone. After our conversation, I felt shamed, as if I had done something wrong. Maybe this officer was having a bad day, I thought, so I left it at that.
Justice should indeed be tempered with mercy and empathy. I’m all for giving people second chances, provided the person who committed the criminal act is contrite, has paid back their debt to society, and the crime isn’t especially heinous.
I also wholeheartedly support community policing, bridging gaps, and getting people the services they need. While our quickly evolving nation demands that our officers need to be warriors, they should also be compassionate guardians.
There is a line, however, and I see it being crossed with more frequency.
Here are some examples to illustrate what I mean, though keep in mind that these are not isolated incidents.
Example #1: South Carolina Sheriff
In a Congressional hearing, Rep. Nancy Mace called out Charleston, South Carolina Sheriff Kristin Graziano for releasing criminal illegal aliens.
“Charleston County had a 287 g cooperation agreement in place with ICE, which acted as an over-72 hours detention facility for aliens apprehended by ICE . . . and worked together to enforce our nation’s laws and keep our community safe.
“No more because of sanctuary Sheriff Kristin Graziano. Unfortunately, in 2021, the new Sheriff of Charleston County {KG} began a systematic effort to dismantle immigration enforcement in Charleston County . . . On her first day in office, she terminated Charleston County’s 287 g cooperation agreement with ICE. She announced this in front of a taco shop.”
Example 2: Idaho Sheriff
, 30-year retired police veteran penned in a recent article:“The Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang is rapidly expanding across the United States, spreading violence and chaos in its wake. Yet, despite clear evidence of this dangerous group’s presence in Canyon County, Idaho, the public is being misled. Recent statements by Sheriff Kieran Donahue, who also serves as the president of the National Sheriffs' Association, downplay the threat, claiming there are no confirmed reports of TDA in the area. But this is not the full truth, and as someone with strong connections in law enforcement, I feel a responsibility to set the record straight.”
Their Actions Come on the Heels of a Border Crisis
Today we learned that ICE provided data to Congress showing that as of this past July, more than 7 million illegal immigrants remain at large in our country. These include 425,431 convicted criminals, 222,141 of whom have pending criminal charges.
Among these are:
13,099 who have been convicted of homicide;
2,521 with have kidnapping convictions;
15,811 with sexual assault convictions;
1,845 who have pending homicide charges.
Behind each and every one of these numbers are real victims and their loved ones. Their lives will never, ever be the same.
Example #3: New Police Leaders Group
A police leaders organization was established this past June that purportedly advocates for safe communities. Based on what I read on their website however, their focus seems to be on gun control (we have bigger issues); equity; holding police accountable; and making structural changes to policing.
What’s Missing from These Conservations?
Yet there’s nary a peep from (whom I refer to as) social justice cops that I can discern, about any of the following very real issues.
That 2023 saw the highest rate of assaults on officers, per the FBI;
That officers are also being shot and killed in record numbers, and that they have targets on their backs because of the uniform they wear;
That cops are being increasingly wrongfully indicted by rogue prosecutors;
That these same rogue prosecutors, no-cash bail laws, and attempts to demoralize law enforcement have helped create a landscape in which criminals have become emboldened to commit crimes and have become more brazen in their heinousness;
That there’s a severe nationwide police staffing shortage that’s putting our citizenry (especially those who already live in troubled communities) at increased risk;
That despite media narratives, crime is most definitely not down;
That the surge of unvetted illegal migrants have created more than 400,000 victims, including men, women, and children.
While I’m a staunch advocate for law enforcement, I’ll never get behind police leaders (and yes, even some officers) who I perceive as dishonest.
Watch and Share My New Crime Video
Crime numbers fed to the public don’t always align with the reality on the ground. There are several reasons for this, which this short video illustrates.
Please watch and share it!
Question For You About Ride-Alongs
Most of my advocacy time is spent lobbying for legislation that will support law enforcement and advance public safety; networking with like-minded groups and individuals; educating via Substack and creating presentations (I just did one with Independent Woman with a very special guest. Can’t wait to tell you about it); and inspiring others to support police at the local level.
I also plan to start doing more police ride-alongs; they’re an excellent way to get a feel for what’s happening on the actual ground.
Though I have a ride-along lined up for next week with a dedicated officer (truly one of the finest of the Finest) at our local police department, I’d like to start scheduling them in other jurisdictions. My dream ride-along is with NYPD’s Finest. : )
Here’s my question: If you’re with law enforcement, does your police department allow civilians who don’t live in your jurisdiction to go on ride-alongs? Feel free to email me directly or comment in the section below.
Giglio Lists and LAPD Officer Cleared!
The National Police Association recently submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of an officer who’s challenging his inclusion on a Giglio list.
In short, officers who are accused of wrongdoing are sometimes put on a state’s Giglio (or Brady) list. The problem with these lists is that they’re arbitrary and unregulated. Police officers may not be above the law, but they’re not under it, either. They deserve due process like any citizen is entitled to.
Some great news! An LAPD officer was finally cleared in a lethal shooting from 2020. The NPA also submitted an amicus brief on behalf of this officer.
I’m honored to be affiliated with NPA, and organization that fights hard for our nation’s cops.
That’s it for this segment. I always love hearing what’s on your mind, even if we disagree. In fact, I encourage respectful, productive dialog that allows for the exchange of ideas. It also helps me to learn. : )
My prayers are with the people of Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. And I wish all of you an amazing weekend.
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.
Paula: You are right on the mark when you talk about the woke trend in policing. Typically the wokeness is at the leadership level and not the street cop. I'm a retired chief and it is apparent that an extremely large percentage of the police chiefs, and some sheriffs, have taken a woke stance on many topics. These police officials typically exhibit weak leadership and rarely support their troops. They're more concerned about keeping their titles, appeasing the politicians and cowing to the liberal criminals and actiivists rather than keeping the public safe and supporting their people. DEI has taken root in policing and we are just starting to see the effects today (think USSS and the Trump attempted assassination debacle). Unfortunately I fear this trend will continue which does not bode well for the public or the law enforcement profession.