Washington, DC - The FOP was disappointed, but not surprised, to see the “Urgent, Action Needed” statement from the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO).

At a time when our profession needs to present a united front, to come together as never before—management as well as rank-and-file—it is a damned shame that there are some who are more interested in throwing rocks. We need to be fighting against those forces who seek to take away our rights and authorities to do our job and not use hyperbole and misrepresentation to undermine the greater efforts to improve policing, enhance officer safety, protect due process rights, and help rebuild the trust between police officers and the communities they serve.

The “analysis” presented by NAPO is based on an old and incomplete draft and lacks the context of the many weeks of work which resulted in many dramatic changes.

Here are the FACTS:

• The FOP will not yield in our effort to preserve the existing qualified immunity doctrine.
• The FOP will not agree to changes to the “objectively reasonable” standard established by Graham v. Connor.
• The FOP will continue to work to ensure that any draft bill provides significant grants and Federal resources on accreditation, data collection, and training, which is a powerful rejection of the “defund the police” movement that was so prominent last summer.

The FOP remains engaged with the Administration as well as with Members of Congress in both parties. We and our partners will continue to negotiate with anyone interested in legislation that safeguards the interests of law enforcement and the public we serve.