The Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 10, has been a strong and generous supporter of the Thin Blue Line Charity Challenge since we began this back in 2007. This blog is not a forum for policitical debate but this piecce of news is releveant, timely and just plain worth posting here. I received this in an email from Mike Loftis, President of Lodge 10.
RESPONSE OF CHUCK CANTERBURY, NATIONAL PRESIDENT, FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE TO STATEMENTS MADE BY GLENN BECK ON HIS RADIO PROGRAM ON
3 MARCH 2011
We know that Mr. Glenn Beck considers himself to be a friend to law enforcement, but he needs to get the facts before he acts–just as a police officer would.
The National Fraternal Order of Police had no role in organizing and is not participating in any of the demonstrations taking place in Madison, Wisconsin. That said, we strongly and unconditionally support the right of public employees to bargain collectively. For rank-and-file law enforcement officers, the ability to sit down with the employers and discuss workplace issues–from officer safety to wages and hours–is critical if the officers are going to be able to complete their mission. We would not deny any public employee the same rights and thus we sympathize with those who find their rights threatened–especially public employees who do so much for so many at every level of government. In any State where the rights of public employees are threatened, we are concerned about the rights of the rank-and-file law enforcement officer.
The Fraternal Order of Police strongly supports the right of the people to assemble peaceably when they do so in accordance with local, State and Federal law. Law enforcement officers provide security for thousands of demonstrations every year to ensure the safety of the participants and that of the general public.
We provide this security regardless of whether we agree or disagree with the issues that the demonstrators are presenting.
Mr. Beck’s criticism of Mr. Anthony K. “Van” Jones and the American Dream movement may be justified. We have absolutely no relationship with Van Jones, and the National FOP is not part of any nationwide movement except our own. We reject any assertion that Van Jones may make regarding systemic police brutality. His record of inaccuracy speaks for itself. The FOP represents law enforcement officers; Mr. Jones represents an agenda.
On his radio show today, Mr. Beck stated that the cops have “acted stupidly,” which is an irresponsible statement to make without all of the facts, whether uttered by a radio personality or the President of the United States.
Any suggestion that the FOP is just a union in a league with a vast labor movement is an inaccurate one. The FOP is not just an organization representing police, we are the police. When our leadership speaks out on issues, they are conveying the perspective of the rank-and-file law enforcement officer, not a national labor movement, and we know our interests better than any radio host.
