A rash of disrespect, efforts to defund and demoralize police by leading Democrats, are having a secondary – and devastatingly human – effect. In January, now February of 2022, a record number of police officers were shot. This carnage must stop. Leadership must speak out to stop this horror.
A few miles north of where I live in Maryland, two officers were shot on February 11. This was just the most recent tragedy, capping a string of reprehensible shootings of innocent, honorable, courageous police officers, each of whom rises daily to protect the nation, their state, community, all of us. See, e.g., UPDATE: Frederick police officers, suspect from Friday’s shooting identified.
In January, 24 police officers were shot, four were killed. In the first week and a half of February, 16 officers have been shot. As the head of the Fraternal Order of Police said at the start of February, this is “the worst I have ever seen.” See, e.g., Law enforcement reacts as January sees 24 police officers shot, including 4 killed; OFFICER SHOT OR KILLED.
Bluntly, police are the primary deterrent to violent crime, a deterrent that works only when a nation, and each of the nation’s citizens, respect the officer and job – filled with risk, danger, loss, cost, and courage.
We are blessed by what is objectively – by any measure – the most honorable, accomplished, best trained, equipped, and respectful police force in the world.
Having served as Colin Powell’s Assistant Secretary of State, formally authorized to manage the training of police forces around the world, from Iran, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Colombia to Thailand, Bolivia, and Botswana, I can attest that no police officer in the world is more respected – than an American officer.
How ironic then, that after all the extraordinary police training, risks and oaths selflessly taken, daily engagements with those who would attack, rape, steal, threaten, kill, and defeat our security and take away your peace of mind, we live to see – in our own country – political demeaning of our police.
The time has come to say, “Stop this!” The gamesmanship, partisanship, elevation of individual aberrations and cases to a systemic whitewash, methodical disparagement of good officers, broad-brush accusations of racism, killing recruitment, retention – and now of officers themselves – must stop!
The use of an exclamation point in a column is rare – but needed here. America is only safe by virtue of high principles and historic institutions upheld, serious crimes deterred, citizens respecting police officers, and those offices rightly believing the public has their back – which they, we should.
So, in this perilous moment for your local police, as well as those who serve at the State and federal levels, think harder. Think truer. Do not let disrespectful, damning political rhetoric alter the truth. We owe our lives and liberty, our homes, and family safety to police officers. Let them know. Then, spread the word. We cannot live in a country where good officers face deadly effects from political malignment. Honor your local police, openly and without hesitation – because they honor you every day.