“Protect and Serve Act” would make it a Federal crime to violently target local, State, or Federal law enforcement officers

Fraternal Order of Police, last three releases:
PROTECT AND SERVE ACT INTRODUCED IN SENATE
Senate Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Protect Police
Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, applauded the introduction of S. 4605, the “Protect and Serve Act.”

This legislation was introduced by Senator Thomas R. Tillis (R-NC) with the support of the Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, Senator Lindsey O. Graham (R-SC), and 14 other original cosponsors.

“The FOP is grateful for Senator Tillis’ leadership, and the support of Chairman Graham, on the introduction of the ‘Protect and Serve Act,’” said Yoes.

“This legislation has long been a legislative priority for the FOP and takes on a particular urgency in the wake of the vicious ambush attack on two deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department a few days ago.”

The “Protect and Serve Act” would make it a Federal crime to violently target local, State, or Federal law enforcement officers. The House companion bill was introduced by Representatives John H. Rutherford (R- FL), Val Demings (D-FL), Peter A. Stauber (R-MN) and Thomas C. O’Halleran (D-AZ), all of whom are former law enforcement officers.

“So far this year, 229 officers have been shot in the line of duty, 35 of whom died. Twenty-four law enforcement officers have been ambushed this year, seven of whom were killed,” said Yoes. “The lethality of these attacks would be much greater but for dramatic improvements in medical trauma science and anti- ballistic technology. Congress should act and act now to address the terrible violence aimed at our law enforcement officers—because the ambush in Los Angeles County will not be the last—by passing the ‘Protect and Serve Act.’ We look forward to working with our friends in the Senate to get this bill to the floor.”

Yoes has made it clear that Bad Cops cannot be protected.
“We don’t want to protect bad cops,” Fraternal Order of Police President Patrick Yoes told USA TODAY. “We all felt that there are a lot of areas that we could build on. Due process (for officers) is a very big point with us. … We very much want to be at the table working at improving the criminal justice system.”

RELEASE: Fraternal Order of Police Endorses Trump for President
The nation’s largest police labor organization gives unanimous support to Donald J. Trump

National President Patrick Yoes announced that the Fraternal Order of Police has unanimously voted to endorse Donald J. Trump for President of the United States.
“Public safety will undoubtedly be a main focus for voters in this year’s election,” Yoes said.

“Look at what the national discourse has focused on for the last six months. President Trump has shown time after time that he supports our law enforcement officers and understands the issues our members face every day. The FOP is proud to endorse a candidate who calls for law and order across our nation. He has the full and enthusiastic support of the FOP.”

The endorsement decision was made through canvassing the more than 355,000 FOP members throughout the country.

After a coward ambushed these heroes in their vehicle, “protesters” flaunted their hate by going to the hospital and chanting, “we hope they die!” There is no place for disgusting behavior like this in our society. It is time to end the baseless hate from the mob. FOP re the video from LA Sheriff Office below:

“During his first four years, President Trump has made it crystal clear that he has our backs,” Yoes said. “Our members know that he listens to the concerns of our brothers and sisters in uniform and is able to make tough decisions on the issues most important to law enforcement. President Trump is committed to keeping our communities and families safe.”

The FOP considered the two 2020 presidential candidates’ records and their responses to FOP’s questionnaire. The FOP received responses from both campaigns in mid-July and distributed them verbatim to the more than 355,000 members of the FOP.

“As the nation’s oldest and largest law enforcement labor organization, the FOP’s presidential endorsement is one of the most sought-after endorsements by candidates running for the presidency,” Yoes said. “The FOP is the number one voice of America’s law enforcement. We have a responsibility to our members, to the 800,000 sworn law enforcement officers in the United States, and to the communities they serve to do our part in determining the direction in which our country will head.”

In every election cycle, the FOP pays close attention to which presidential campaign highlights the issues most vital to the men and women of the FOP, including the challenges faced by the rank-and-file law enforcement officers, the real issues in public safety, and the problems in our criminal justice system. The FOP has endorsed candidates—from both parties—that our members believe have made the men and women of law enforcement a priority: George H. W. Bush (1992); William J. Clinton (1996); George W. Bush (2000, 2004); John S. McCain (2008); Donald J. Trump (2016). In 2012, the FOP voted not to endorse a candidate.
The Fraternal Order of Police is the oldest and largest law enforcement labor organization in the United States with more than 355, 000 members.

Brothers and sisters, as our nation becomes increasingly divided during this unprecedented time, law enforcement officers are the keepers of the peace and stand firm on the thin blue line, placing themselves between order and anarchy. For this reason, our officers are targets and may be subject to attack at any point—without warning and without reason. Therefore, I am urging all of our nation’s law enforcement officers to be vigilant.
• Exercise caution at all times.
• Be aware of your environment and surroundings.
• Maintain constant situational awareness.
• Be prepared.
• Take every reasonable precaution when engaging with the public.
• Watch your back—and that of your partner.
• Do not take unnecessary chances and call for backup when needed.
Keep yourself and your communities safe by being vigilant on duty and off. There are individuals who are motivated solely by a desire to hurt or kill a police officer, so do not let your guard down.
Be safe and may God protect us all.