The War on Cops Has Increased the Risk for Police Malfeasance
Plus some updates + reminders
Most conversations and opinion pieces about how to rid police departments of bad cops miss the mark. They usually focus on factors like poor training, unions that protect their members at any cost, and a police culture that’s “inherently brutal.”
The Discourse About Bad Cops is Often Off-Target
What these pundits and armchair analysts often omit is that the emotional toll sparked by an ongoing war on cops has resulted in mass exoduses of experienced and qualified men and women. It’s also left management with smaller applicant pools - and thus, candidates that are not as desirable as most of us have come to expect in our guardians. When you have fewer options, you’re forced to settle - and the results can sometimes be devastating.
Hoping to set the record straight, I sent in a rebuttal to the Wall State Journal in response to one of their pieces. Here’s an excerpt:
“In your The Death of Tyre Nichols opinion piece, you wrote that “the solution is to recruit and train more good police.” Therein lies the conundrum. Police departments are in the grip of a recruitment crisis that began circa 2015 and accelerated in 2020.
Smaller applicant pools translate to a reduction in qualified candidates from which departments can choose. Instead, they’re forced to settle for less desirable applicants. In fact, police departments have begun to lower some of their hiring standards, including physical fitness, work, and education requirements. As the pinch to hire cops continues, what other requirements will be lowered?”
—Paula Fitzsimmons
They didn’t publish my letter, which is just fine by me - because they did publish another stellar piece with similar talking points. It’s by Jason Johnson, president of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund.
The article is behind a paywall, but here are some excerpts:
“The death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tenn., exposed a crisis of professionalism in policing. Faced with record levels of retirements and resignations, police agencies are putting recruit quantity over quality with disastrous results. Desperate departments that hire risky recruits invite bad policing.”
And
“The longer the staffing crisis goes on, the worse community-police tensions will become as faith in the competence and trustworthiness of law enforcement erodes. A four-year college degree may not be necessary to perform the duties of a police officer, but applicants with sketchy employment and education résumés are unlikely to possess the communication skills and self-control necessary to do well as cops. A history of drug and alcohol abuse or criminal activity has been shown to increase the risk that an officer will use excessive force or engage in serious misconduct on the job. Officers who are in poor physical shape can’t credibly protect the public from crime.”
Boom! Precisely, Jason.
Updates & Reminders
Legislation
As you know, I’ve been closely following the Protect & Serve Act. Another bill called the Thin Blue Line Act has been re-introduced in the U.S. House that’s worth watching.
I’ll be writing about this more in future issues, but in brief, here’s what you should know about both bills.
As Ryan Windorff, president of FOP Wisconsin explained to me:
“The Thin Blue Line Act would expand the list of aggravating factors in federal death penalty determinations to add killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder. Essentially, if someone is convicted of a federal crime that included the killing of a first responder, the court would be able to include that as an aggravating factor in determining if a death sentence is appropriate.
“The Protect and Serve Act would create a new crime for anyone who “knowingly assaults a law enforcement officer causing serious bodily injury, or attempts to do so”. This would apply to offenses with a federal nexus and apply some mandatory minimum sentences (which the feds are known for).”
“So both have different purposes but are designed to send a message that we, as a society, will not tolerate attacks or killing of our law enforcement officers.”
Write to Your U.S. Representative
Please take a moment to write to or call your U.S. Congressperson in support of the Protect & Serve Act.
The FOP made it easy for all of us to get involved by creating an automated form letter. It takes just a minute or so to complete, and will go further in creating meaningful change than complaining on social media.
Meet a REAL Police Chief
Have you had a chance to listen to Travis Yates interview retired city of Madison police chief, Mike Koval? If you’re not into podcasts, Travis has written transcript available on his Substack page.
There’s not a doubt in my mind that the policing landscape would look much different if more like Chief Koval were at the helm.
Women and Public Safety
It’s insane to me that women’s groups are not more vocal about public safety and the policing crisis. Fewer cops means that there’s less time dedicated to solving crimes and caring for victims of sensitive crimes like human trafficking, domestic abuse, and rape.
This may be changing.
I’m in talks with a dynamic national women’s group I belong to about how we can collaborate to advance public safety & law enforcement. I’m hoping to have more news in time for International Women’s Day.
Until next time. : )
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.