As a local police officer who was on road patrol until moving to a school resource officer spot this year, I’ve given this a lot of thought. I haven’t had to deal with it personally yet, but I work in the suburb of a “blue” city. ICE has a field office in that city and my fear is that, if DHS isn’t checked, one of their surges could end up on my doorstep.
I’ve been watching my command staff closely and was happy to receive an email from our interim chief reminding us that we do not and will not conduct immigration enforcement. Another area agency took it a step further and specified that they won’t be cooperating with ICE.
Unfortunately, I fear most officers are victims of the same polarized media environment as everyone else. Many of my coworkers identify as conservative and, if I point out ICE’s indiscretions, I’m typically met with skepticism or eye-rolling.
I’ve made my choice as to how I will react if I come in contact with any federal agents violating the constitution. If standing between them and the community I’m sworn to protect puts my job at risk, so be it.
The real cops are between a rock and a hard place. Outnumbered, outgunned, and faced with disobeying the president of the country if they fight back! That being said, I think they should pick a side anyway. If they choose the side of the people we will stand with them through thick and thin, fight alongside them and back them to the hilt! So choose a side, police; and show this "president" he can't make this into an authoritarian hellhole!
Thank you for this piece. Unfortunately for Seattle, the new mayor was an activist screaming for defunding police 6 years ago. So I suspect whatever she says and does will get a negative reaction from the police union. This is very important to point out that the mayor and the city council as well as the PD must foster a strong working relationship. Otherwise, the federal government can really leverage this wedge between the police and city hall.
Can we just say kidnapping? The definition of kidnapping is “the action of abducting someone and holding them captive”. One cannot disappear something or someone. As Americans, we certainly do not need to continue to prove our stupidity any further.
Where are Congressional Republicans who are in control of Congress right now????
CONGRESS is charged with the constitutional responsibility to prevent this egregious abuse of power by a corrupt president! These Congressional Republicans apparently pledged an oath to protect this corrupt president and NOT this democracy.
It’s SHAMEFUL that Republicans abdicated their responsibilities under our Constitution and betrayed this republic and our citizens!
They sold their souls for power, plain and simple!
You are exactly right. They have been silent (complicit) even though they speak out to others privately. I am grateful for those that have spoken up, but we need all of them (90+%) to do and say the right thing now! Pick a subject or individual battle and stand firm on it. This is how the “take a stand” moment will start. Not just a general “I am against the president”. That is unsustainable.
Yes, Republicans are complicit in the destruction of this democracy that is occurring right before our very eyes.
Our political parties do not have the option of remaining silent or being complicit with a corrupt president.
Congressional Republicans were elected to protect this democracy, not this maniac corrupt president. They do not get to choose which one they are going to support. Our Constitution comes FIRST!
If one political party REFUSES to honor their pledge to protect and defend our Constitution, they need to be REMOVED from office.
Voters NEVER should have allowed them to pledge allegiance to trump and reject their responsibilities to our Constitution.
Our Constitution needs to be amended to prevent this outrageous betrayal of America by one political party in control of Congress.
Bold! Courageous! And spot on. Local and state law enforcement make the same oath to the Constitution as we Marines. I for one am prepared to defend my neighbors with my life if necessary. There are no illegals on stolen land.
Thank you so much for your article. For the past several months I have been asking on many forums, including this one, why local law enforcement does not intervene to protect people and assure them of their rights. No answers, which is strange, or it suggests local law enforcement is told to stand down to allow the abuses by ICE. And, my conclusion is that if we can't rely on our local enforcement, we need to protect ourselves. And you know that's a can of worms - ICE and the orange turd will jump on any misstep on our parts to invoke the insurrection act. I believe that if we are on our own, we need to bring back the militias as they were intended when this country was founded. Basically, this translates to: we are not taking your shit and injustice; and we challenge your authority to abuse us.
Thank you--for your reasoned and highly-informed voice on this most important of issues. We are most definately at an unprecedented crossroads. I agree with you that local and State police can make a decisive difference in the outcome for all the reasons you stated.
January 6 made it clear to me that all of trump's talk about "backing the blue" was utter bullshit. Pardoning / Commuting sentences of those that had been convicted underscored to me that he had absolutely no regard to local police forces.
I appreciate you speaking out to your professional community. I hope they hear you and respond accordingly.
My view is that police officers should be held to the same standard of being apolitical as those in military service.
It bothers me that if I should need help from the local police, that the responding officer will refuse to help because he is a Trump supporter and remembered I had a Harris campaign sign on my front lawn.
Not 3 years; 9 months. Democrats will take the House and the Senate in November. The administration knows that and has already indicated loudly that they intend to cheat. They’re going to do anything they can to prevent their loss; they won’t prevent it.
But there’s work to be done to ensure that. Some of it is already happening. Protests work; boycotts work. Legal action works. It’s not going to be like last time where so many just thought their rhetoric was bluster. They have proven that Project 2025 and authoritarianism was the plan all along. They continue to block the Epstein files cuz they know the truth about them. Not gonna work. Everyone’s awake this time. Many more are engaged. Many more will become engaged. Peacefully.
I agree with you, Thomas. Your article is very good. You are right that the officers always listen to their unions. But it is time for the unions to change the tone. They need to be above law and constitution. I have been against ICE and CBP cause they are out of the control very badly. They target the communities, the protesters, states, and locals. Enough is enough. I know police officers are a very professional officers. They handle the situation very well. They are very familiar with their communities very well. ICE agents aren’t familiar with the communities at all. The agents, and CBP should return to the borders. That is where they work. I do understand what you mean. The officers will have enough with the current President. They will protect the communities and the people. I agree with the Mayor of Seattle. That makes very sense. I want to thank you for sharing with us. I am very proud of you, Thomas.
Eric, thank you fòr your service, That is what real police work is, Care for your community, Concern fòr defending the Constitution, Courage in the face of opposition from peers and ICE. You are a good man,
Well if the lawful police departments can't do the job at some point the citizens and their weapons will have to steip up. I never thought in my 77 years my country would sink this low but it has.
Bill, I understand the frustration and anger. And this certainly isn't how I wanted to spend my retirement either. But the resistance must remain peaceful, even in the face of violence perpetrated by masked federal thugs. Violence gives Trump and Miller exactly what they want - an excuse to declare and emergency and send in more thugs or the military. There aren't enough guns in the hands of untrained civilian patriots to achieve anything but more lawlessness and death. But I believe that if more cops see them for what they are and what they are doing to this nation, and stand with the resistance against these criminals, we have a chance.
Of course you are correct Tom, we civilians are ill equipped to take on the federal thugs and the armed forces. Let's hope the cops can see and then lets try next January to throw the whole administration out per our consitution.
As a local police officer who was on road patrol until moving to a school resource officer spot this year, I’ve given this a lot of thought. I haven’t had to deal with it personally yet, but I work in the suburb of a “blue” city. ICE has a field office in that city and my fear is that, if DHS isn’t checked, one of their surges could end up on my doorstep.
I’ve been watching my command staff closely and was happy to receive an email from our interim chief reminding us that we do not and will not conduct immigration enforcement. Another area agency took it a step further and specified that they won’t be cooperating with ICE.
Unfortunately, I fear most officers are victims of the same polarized media environment as everyone else. Many of my coworkers identify as conservative and, if I point out ICE’s indiscretions, I’m typically met with skepticism or eye-rolling.
I’ve made my choice as to how I will react if I come in contact with any federal agents violating the constitution. If standing between them and the community I’m sworn to protect puts my job at risk, so be it.
Thank you Eric! Courage is contagious. Hopefully more of your coworkers will catch it.
The real cops are between a rock and a hard place. Outnumbered, outgunned, and faced with disobeying the president of the country if they fight back! That being said, I think they should pick a side anyway. If they choose the side of the people we will stand with them through thick and thin, fight alongside them and back them to the hilt! So choose a side, police; and show this "president" he can't make this into an authoritarian hellhole!
Thank you for this piece. Unfortunately for Seattle, the new mayor was an activist screaming for defunding police 6 years ago. So I suspect whatever she says and does will get a negative reaction from the police union. This is very important to point out that the mayor and the city council as well as the PD must foster a strong working relationship. Otherwise, the federal government can really leverage this wedge between the police and city hall.
Can we just say kidnapping? The definition of kidnapping is “the action of abducting someone and holding them captive”. One cannot disappear something or someone. As Americans, we certainly do not need to continue to prove our stupidity any further.
Kidnapping is a crime - *the* crime, full stop.
Where are Congressional Republicans who are in control of Congress right now????
CONGRESS is charged with the constitutional responsibility to prevent this egregious abuse of power by a corrupt president! These Congressional Republicans apparently pledged an oath to protect this corrupt president and NOT this democracy.
It’s SHAMEFUL that Republicans abdicated their responsibilities under our Constitution and betrayed this republic and our citizens!
They sold their souls for power, plain and simple!
You are exactly right. They have been silent (complicit) even though they speak out to others privately. I am grateful for those that have spoken up, but we need all of them (90+%) to do and say the right thing now! Pick a subject or individual battle and stand firm on it. This is how the “take a stand” moment will start. Not just a general “I am against the president”. That is unsustainable.
Yes, Republicans are complicit in the destruction of this democracy that is occurring right before our very eyes.
Our political parties do not have the option of remaining silent or being complicit with a corrupt president.
Congressional Republicans were elected to protect this democracy, not this maniac corrupt president. They do not get to choose which one they are going to support. Our Constitution comes FIRST!
If one political party REFUSES to honor their pledge to protect and defend our Constitution, they need to be REMOVED from office.
Voters NEVER should have allowed them to pledge allegiance to trump and reject their responsibilities to our Constitution.
Our Constitution needs to be amended to prevent this outrageous betrayal of America by one political party in control of Congress.
Bold! Courageous! And spot on. Local and state law enforcement make the same oath to the Constitution as we Marines. I for one am prepared to defend my neighbors with my life if necessary. There are no illegals on stolen land.
Contemptus usque ad mortem!
In Solidarity,
Uncle Tifa
Thank you so much for your article. For the past several months I have been asking on many forums, including this one, why local law enforcement does not intervene to protect people and assure them of their rights. No answers, which is strange, or it suggests local law enforcement is told to stand down to allow the abuses by ICE. And, my conclusion is that if we can't rely on our local enforcement, we need to protect ourselves. And you know that's a can of worms - ICE and the orange turd will jump on any misstep on our parts to invoke the insurrection act. I believe that if we are on our own, we need to bring back the militias as they were intended when this country was founded. Basically, this translates to: we are not taking your shit and injustice; and we challenge your authority to abuse us.
Thank you--for your reasoned and highly-informed voice on this most important of issues. We are most definately at an unprecedented crossroads. I agree with you that local and State police can make a decisive difference in the outcome for all the reasons you stated.
January 6 made it clear to me that all of trump's talk about "backing the blue" was utter bullshit. Pardoning / Commuting sentences of those that had been convicted underscored to me that he had absolutely no regard to local police forces.
I appreciate you speaking out to your professional community. I hope they hear you and respond accordingly.
My view is that police officers should be held to the same standard of being apolitical as those in military service.
It bothers me that if I should need help from the local police, that the responding officer will refuse to help because he is a Trump supporter and remembered I had a Harris campaign sign on my front lawn.
Not 3 years; 9 months. Democrats will take the House and the Senate in November. The administration knows that and has already indicated loudly that they intend to cheat. They’re going to do anything they can to prevent their loss; they won’t prevent it.
But there’s work to be done to ensure that. Some of it is already happening. Protests work; boycotts work. Legal action works. It’s not going to be like last time where so many just thought their rhetoric was bluster. They have proven that Project 2025 and authoritarianism was the plan all along. They continue to block the Epstein files cuz they know the truth about them. Not gonna work. Everyone’s awake this time. Many more are engaged. Many more will become engaged. Peacefully.
I agree with you, Thomas. Your article is very good. You are right that the officers always listen to their unions. But it is time for the unions to change the tone. They need to be above law and constitution. I have been against ICE and CBP cause they are out of the control very badly. They target the communities, the protesters, states, and locals. Enough is enough. I know police officers are a very professional officers. They handle the situation very well. They are very familiar with their communities very well. ICE agents aren’t familiar with the communities at all. The agents, and CBP should return to the borders. That is where they work. I do understand what you mean. The officers will have enough with the current President. They will protect the communities and the people. I agree with the Mayor of Seattle. That makes very sense. I want to thank you for sharing with us. I am very proud of you, Thomas.
Thank you for your essential statements. We are close to crisis mode, and we have three more years of this madness to drive our democracy to its knees
The police are the protectors of law and order in our communities and as far as I am concerned,
they are extremely fair and settle things down right away
The gestapo tactics are very dangerous, and law and order have been replaced with brutal thuglike tactics
Not certain what our cities will resemble after three more years of this brutality
These masked quasifascists are giving local police and federal law enforcement a bad name. Everyone should oppose them.
Eric, thank you fòr your service, That is what real police work is, Care for your community, Concern fòr defending the Constitution, Courage in the face of opposition from peers and ICE. You are a good man,
Excellent piece. Thank you very much
Well if the lawful police departments can't do the job at some point the citizens and their weapons will have to steip up. I never thought in my 77 years my country would sink this low but it has.
Bill, I understand the frustration and anger. And this certainly isn't how I wanted to spend my retirement either. But the resistance must remain peaceful, even in the face of violence perpetrated by masked federal thugs. Violence gives Trump and Miller exactly what they want - an excuse to declare and emergency and send in more thugs or the military. There aren't enough guns in the hands of untrained civilian patriots to achieve anything but more lawlessness and death. But I believe that if more cops see them for what they are and what they are doing to this nation, and stand with the resistance against these criminals, we have a chance.
Of course you are correct Tom, we civilians are ill equipped to take on the federal thugs and the armed forces. Let's hope the cops can see and then lets try next January to throw the whole administration out per our consitution.