Over the past couple of weeks, Heritage Action has been floating a “Police Pledge” in D.C. circles to build a political opposition to defund local police departments. All four Republicans in Oklahoma’s House Delegation have signed onto the pledge.
Congressman Kevin Hern was the first to signal his support of the “Police Pledge” in light of a recent shooting which left one Tulsa police officer dead and another wounded.
“I have the utmost respect and admiration for our police force,” said Hern. “It was not a hard decision to sign this pledge – it’s a written commitment of the values I live by every day. The movement to ‘defund the police’ is dangerous and would be harmful to our community. While many argue that ‘defund’ does not mean ‘defund’, local officials in at least 13 cities across our country have already taken legislative steps to do just that, with many activists calling for the complete dissolution of their local police departments. In addition, police officers are facing exponentially increased danger in the line of duty for no reason other than the uniform they wear. My constituents ask me about this every day, they’re concerned about the security of our community and the safety of those who choose to serve and protect their neighbors.
“Tulsa had a hard summer following the shooting of Sergeant Craig Johnson and Officer Aurash Zarkeshan. The grief of Sgt. Johnson’s death was felt by the entire community, who rallied around the Johnson and Zarkeshan families with support, encouragement, sympathy, and love. There is no doubt about it, the movement to ‘defund the police’ has no place in Oklahoma. I cannot and will not support legislative action that harms our people by cutting or eliminating law enforcement.”
Congressman Tom Cole signed onto the pledge to show his support. One of the major towns in his district, Norman, is going through a controversy over the cut of a proposed funding increase for the Norman Police Department.
“Police officers are in an honorable yet difficult profession, and they selflessly risk their lives every day to keep all of our communities safe,” said Cole. “It is their sworn duty to uphold the law, and their bravery and sacrifice should not go unnoticed. As they carry out their responsibility to serve and protect, I will do what I can to ensure funding is upheld so that they can continue to protect our communities. By signing this pledge, I am proud to stand with America’s police.”
Congressmen Frank Lucas and Markwayne Mullin have since signed onto the pledge.
“Oklahoma’s law enforcement officers, and hundreds of thousands more across the United States, risk their lives every single day to ensure the freedoms and property of every single individual are protected. Our communities are forever indebted to the men and women of America’s police departments who take an oath to uphold the law and carry out their responsibility to serve and protect,” said Lucas. “We need our law enforcement, which is why I oppose any legislative attempt to ‘Defund the Police’ and, why I’ll always stand with the men and women in blue who protect our communities.”
“The men and women of our law enforcement put their lives on the line each day to keep their communities safe and they deserve our full support,” Mullin said. “We are a nation of laws and the laws must be enforced. Defunding the police is not a serious answer to the issues our country is facing and will only lead to anarchy. I am proud to sign this pledge and stand with our nation’s brave law enforcement officers.”
So far, 167 House members have signed the pledge. Twenty U.S. Senators have done so, including U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe.
