Friends and neighbors,
Today is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. It has always been a difficult job, but anti-law enforcement rhetoric over the last few years has inflamed tensions, made the job more dangerous than ever, and made our communities less safe. That is why we should be clear about where we stand: I support law enforcement.
Law enforcement officers face risks and pressures most families will thankfully never experience, and they do it in service to people they will probably never meet. To all the men and women who put on the badge and step into danger every day to keep us safe, we say thank you.
Our support matters now more than ever, because the reality of this job is stark. Last year alone, more than one hundred officers lost their lives in the line of duty. Hundreds more were shot, and tens of thousands were assaulted. Behind every one of those stats are families and friends who hope and pray that their loved one will return safe at the end of their shifts.
At the same time, when officers are allowed to do their jobs and are backed by their communities, violent crime goes down and lives are saved.
National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was created to recognize the sacrifices law enforcement officers make, and to remind us of our responsibility as citizens.
Let’s show our gratitude. Let’s speak loud and clear in support of those who protect our neighborhoods. Let’s disavow the dangerous anti-law enforcement rhetoric. Our officers deserve to know that the people they serve stand with them, pray for them, and appreciate the burdens they carry.
To every law enforcement officer and to every family who shares in this calling, thank you. I am grateful for your service, and I stand firmly in support of you, and will continue to pray for you.
