Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, the National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, expressed his disgust at the news that two law enforcement officers with the Dallas Police Department and a third officer with the Garland Police Department were indicted on charges stemming from their response to rioting in the city in 2020.

“Our local lodge leadership have decried this indictment as politically motivated,” Yoes said. “Certainly the facts of the matter are clear—these officers responded to a riot and deployed their less lethal tools in a manner consistent with their orders, their training and the law.”

Many of the rioters on that day were armed with impromptu weapons and hurled rocks, bricks, human waste and other objects at responding officers. The officers exercised restraint and used lawful and appropriate crowd-control tactics to limit the amount of destruction and reduce the risks of physical harm.

“The local FOP lodge believes that the Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot is pursuing this case for political benefit and based on what I know, I think that’s correct,” Yoes said. “He seems to be sacrificing the pursuit of justice with a pursuit of a headline or two. Honest, capable law enforcement officers should not be used as political pawns in Dallas County or any place else. These officers know that the National FOP supports them.”