WE HAVE YOUR BACK
The greatest statement of respect in law enforcement includes
three simple words: “Got your back.” It’s not just a recognition of
great professionalism. It’s a phrase of endearment passed from
one law enforcer to another.
Now, Mr. Trump certainly seems to be worthy of such tribute
given the way he has walked the walk the past four years. But
law enforcement performance can be a metrics-driven entity,
especially when it comes to verifying to supervisors, directors
and elected officials the prowess of programs and initiatives.
Consider, then, some of the metrics resulting from Trump
Administration-driven initiatives:
• From 2016 to 2019, violent crime dropped 4.6 percent in
the US, where violent crime spiked in each of the two years
prior to the president taking office.
• The national murder rate declined during his first two years
in office to a 7-percent reduction after increasing each of
the prior two years.
• From 2016 to 2018, the number of robberies nationwide
dropped by more than 50,000.
• In 2018, the Trump Administration charged the largest
number of firearms crimes defendants in the history of the
country. And federal firearms prosecutions increased by
44 percent compared the last two years of the previous
administration.
• In reviving the 1933 program, the Trump Administration
provided more than 600 million dollars worth of surplus
military equipment to local law enforcement.
“The previous administration did not want to make you look like
a threat,” the president announced during his keynote address
to the 2019 IACP conference. “I said, ‘That’s OK. We want to
protect our police officers.’” Accordingly, his administration
made funding available to train more than 80,000 police officers.
In thinking back to a meeting he had with President Trump in
2019, Florida Police Benevolent Association President, John
Kazanjian, cites another number. He conjectures that of the 10
million arrests law enforcement made last year, there were a
little more than 1,000 officer-involved fatalities. Out of the 1,000,
41 were unarmed. Kazanjian says one death is too much but he
emphasizes how dangerous it is to be a law enforcement officer.
As Kazanjian’s conversation with Mr. Trump progressed,
they chatted about the results of the president’s support for
the badge. Law enforcement is a formidable voting bloc that
includes its friends and family and it very well might have
pushed him over the top in states like Florida during the 2016
election. Subsequently, the president formed a coalition with law
enforcement that has led to improving the safety of citizens and
those who serve and protect him.
And that prompted Kazanjian to offer some compelling words to
the president that can only come from a law enforcement officer
to one of their own.
“I told him, ‘We have your back, Mr. President,’” Kazanjian reported.
“And he looked back at me and said, ‘No, I have your back.’”
Fast forward about a year and a half, and Kazanjian recalled that
interaction painted against what has happened in the country
since the end of May. He appraised how much backup has been
coming from the president.
“Federal, state and local politicians have taken our money and
our endorsements and have thrown us under the bus. They
don’t have our back. Joe Biden has not come out to support us,”
Kazanjian continued. “Mr. Trump understands we need law and
order and that the angry mob cannot dictate the narrative. That’s
why he is the law and order president.”
THAT MOST SACRED CALLING
Clearly, President Trump is willing to put law enforcement on his
back. He has been a riveting speaker at just about every major
national law enforcement gathering. His speech in front of the
US Capitol on National Peace Officers Memorial Day each May
15 offers an emotional, validating, consoling, multiple-standingovation
generating crescendo to National Police Week.
The president uses that all-in-this-together voice at these
events, the inviting tone fueled by what Casstevens calls an
uncanny ability to recall the names of officers lost in the line
of duty and their family members. To law enforcement officers,
he seems to reiterate an oath of office when making these
speeches. He always, always starts with, “We stand with you 100
percent,” and then will follow up with ovation-rendering oratory.
“When danger came, when darkness fell, when destruction
loomed, they did not flinch. They were not afraid. They did
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