Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), offered the complete and total support of the National FOP to all the officers responding to the public protests and civil unrest surrounding Delaney Hall, a Federal detention facility in Newark, New Jersey.
“Political grandstanding does not solve problems; it creates them. It does not make people or places safer; it makes them more dangerous. It does not calm restive situations; it enflames them. The bottom line is that the reckless statements and theatrics displayed by many of the elected officials in New Jersey are putting our officers, demonstrators, and the public in greater jeopardy.
“The National FOP strongly supports the right of individuals to peacefully assemble and express their views—this is one of our most basic and sacred rights as Americans.
“When officers are managing large demonstrations like those we have seen in Newark, they must protect the constitutional rights of demonstrators, prevent violence, and safeguard surrounding neighborhoods, all while keeping themselves and their fellow officers safe. To be successful, law enforcement agencies must have access to all the resources they need to accomplish this mission.
“Let me be clear—reducing critical manpower or limiting needed resources is dangerous. It can compromise officer safety, endanger civilians, hinder de-escalation efforts, and make restoring order much more difficult. Decisions regarding the deployment of personnel and resources must be driven by public safety considerations and the professional judgment of law enforcement professionals—not by political considerations, public perception, or elected officials who want a headline or a media interview.
“I am proud of the men and women of the Newark Police Division and the law enforcement agencies assisting them. The citizens of Newark and the State of New Jersey should too.
“On behalf of the more than 382,000 FOP members nationwide, we urge public officials at every level of New Jersey government to place officer safety and public safety above politics, to trust the professional expertise of law enforcement decision-makers, and to ensure that officers have the personnel, equipment, and resources necessary to perform their duties safely and effectively.
“It’s been said that politics is a bloodsport. Unfortunately, when that old cliché becomes a chaotic reality, the blood is all too often that of a law enforcement officer.”