The National Association of Police Organizations endorsed President Trump’s re-election last week, citing his “strong and very public support” for law enforcement.
In a brief letter to Mr. Trump, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times, NAPO President Michael McHale said the president’s support was critical in the wake of the attacks on police following the death of George Floyd.
The President’s public praise for law enforcement appreciated “during this time of unfair and inaccurate disgrace directed at our members by many,” said Mr. McHale.
“We especially appreciate that you order the Attorney General to aggressively prosecute those who attack our officers,” he wrote.
Representing more than 1,000 police unions and 241,000 sworn officers, the group did not endorse a candidate in the 2016 presidential election. It approved the Obama-Biden ticket in 2008 and 2012.
The decision to align himself with Trump this year dealt a blow to presumed Democratic presidential candidate Joseph R. Biden, who has long been a proud “unionist” and police ally.
NAPO’s endorsement revealed the depth of the cracks in Mr. Biden’s police support since he sided with racial justice protesters and other Democrats who have been beating police departments on charges of racism and brutality.
Officials from other police unions told the Times that they felt abandoned when Biden refused to condemn the attacks on the police after the death of Floyd, a black man who died under the knees of a white police officer in Minneapolis.
“Biden appears to have abandoned the police and their support for the police because it is not popular to support the police at this time,” said Paul DiGiacomo, president of the Detectives’ Endowment Association, the second largest union representing the city of New York Police Department Officers.
“It is disappointing, but most politicians are doing it,” he continued. “I feel like if you support us, stay firm. We don’t deserve not to be supported. “
In recent weeks, Biden has tried to appeal to both the police and protesters. He called for concrete changes in law enforcement, but failed to accept proposals from the far left to dismantle and dismantle police departments.
Biden says he does not support the police disbursement move, but said some funds should be “absolutely” redirected from the police to social programs.
Last month, Biden’s campaign unveiled a criminal justice plan that proposes an additional $ 300 million for community policing to improve relationships with officers and residents. He also promised to create a national police review board within his first 100 days in office.
Biden has called for an end to the transfer of military weapons to local police departments, a ban on bottlenecks and a national “use of force” standard.
Police union officials who praised Mr. Biden’s landmark crime law in the 1990s and considered him a staunch advocate for the men and women in blue, say his current rhetoric is surprising.
“I think police officers and associations are looking at Joe Biden today, and it’s hard not to contrast the candidate today with the senator 15 or 20 years ago,” said Bill Johnson, executive director of NAPO. “Sir. Biden, like many candidates, moved to the left-wing party during the primaries, but once it became clear that he was going to be the candidate, he did not stop.”
Mr. Biden’s new police review plan would reverse parts of the 1994 criminal legislation he defended. The tough 1994 bill was seen as a liability to him with black voters this year.
Tom Scotto, who previously served as NAPO President, worked closely with Mr. Biden on crime law and considers him a friend. He wanted the Democratic candidate to more strongly condemn attacks on the police, but said he still views Biden as a strong advocate of law enforcement.
“It is impossible for me to believe that Joe’s support for law enforcement has waned unless he says it to my face,” he said. “There is no one, but no one, but no one in the entire United States Congress who has done more for law enforcement than Joe Biden. Today it has brought together more than 20 members of Congress. “
Others are skeptical.
DiGiacomo said he believes Biden’s failure to distance himself from the “fire police” movement may have cost him other union support.
“Right now, I can’t see any police or police group supporting him after what he said dancing on the subject of the police in the United States,” he said.
While Biden walks a fine line between police and protesters, Trump stood firm on a law enforcement platform.
The contrast could not be sharper.
On Monday, Trump held an event at the White House in honor of law enforcement where he said the Democrats’ “anti-police crusade” is causing violent crime that affects major cities.
“It is in every far-left city that they don’t understand what to do,” Trump said of recent spikes in crime. “If that’s what you want for a country, you probably have to vote for ‘Sleepy’ Joe Biden, because he doesn’t know what’s going on. But you won’t have it with me.
Trump also noted that his administration will take more aggressive measures against violent crime. Last week, the Justice Department increased the number of federal agents to combat the growing violence in Kansas City.
Johnson said law enforcement officers have noticed the difference between the two candidates.
“It is very fair to say that the officers are concerned about what they have seen and have not seen,” he said. “It would be very welcome to receive even a single word of encouragement and, on the other hand, to condemn the ongoing violence and deadly attacks against the police.
“The public presentation of Mr. Biden’s campaign regarding law enforcement concerns us greatly about what his administration would look like with the support of base officers,” he said.
