OPINION:
Democrats say they want law, they say they want order, but when it comes down to supporting those who uphold law and order, they shut their eyes, shrug their shoulders and pretend the “defund police” movement is little more than a civil rights fight and not intended, as its label would suggest, to actually defund police.
Now crime in certain spots is rising.
Now police in certain spots are leaving.
But more significantly, now police in certain spots are fighting back in court.
“They are terrorists. They hate me. They hate my uniform. They don’t care if I die,” wrote one New Jersey officer, Sara Erwin, on Facebook, in reference to Black Livers Matter protesters.
For that, she was fired. And when another officer weighed in also on Facebook below Erwin’s comment, she was suspended for six months and demoted.
But they’re not going quietly.
They’ve sued. They’ve accused their Hopewell Township bureaucrats of wrongful termination, given a) they have stellar police records spanning 20 or so years of service and b) they made the posts because, umm, they’re freaking American citizens endowed by their Creator with the right to speak their minds.
Talk about a town’s knee-jerk reaction.
The officers’ attorney, Frank Crivelli, put it well: “[The council’s actions] are disgraceful and cowardice.”
Yep. Can you say blatant cave to the far left?
Just for context, Erwin’s June 2020 Facebook post was this: “Last night as I left for work I had my two kids crying for me not to go to work. I don’t think I’ve ever felt the way I did last night. And then I watched people I know and others I care about going into harms way. I love my police family like my own. So when you share posts and things on Facebook I’d really appreciate if you’d THINK before doing so. I’ve seen so many black lives matter hashtags in these posts. Just to let you know — they are terrorists. They hate me. They hate my uniform. They don’t care if I die.”
For that — see ya. Years of honorable police service down the drain. Town council pinheads unanimously dismissed her, based on recommendations of an attorney. Now they’re refusing to comment.
“Councilwoman Julie Blake, who serves as mayor, declined to discuss the matter, citing personnel confidentiality,” NJ.com wrote.
Well and good. Fine and dandy.
But the people of America are, by and large, very large supporters of the 900,000 or so police officers who serve this nation.
Minus the criminals, most in the country respect and support police, the first line of defense in a justice system based on law, based on order, not based on mob rule.
And they’re not taking kindly to the left’s condemnation of police and simultaneous embrace, however light, of thugs. America’s reaching a tipping point with all this anti-fill-in-the-blank rhetoric against cops.
“Police Wrestle With Surge in Crime in U.S. Cities Amid Defunding Efforts,” The Wall Street Journal wrote in July 2020.
“Violent crime surged across America after police retreated,” USA Today wrote this past April.
“Surge of homicides could cast ‘defund the police’ debate in new light,” ABC 6 wrote, just a few weeks ago.
According to data from the FBI and several cities around the nation, homicides increased by 30% or so in 2020. Why? Democrats and their socialist comrades would have it believed it’s due to coronavirus tensions — and maybe, in part, that’s true. Lockdowns aren’t exactly soothing. But Democrats and their socialist comrades would also have it believed it’s guns — and therefore, call for gun control — or climate change — and therefore call for funding for environmental regulation and control. What Democrats and their socialist comrades would never, never, ever want to admit is that the “defund police” movement is tied to heightened criminal activity. At least, not openly.
Yet, as ABC 6 wrote: “Many cities that slashed police resources last year because of the protests, the pandemic, or both have poured money back into law enforcement to cope with a sudden surge of violence.”
They did it quietly, without acknowledging the need for police, of course.
They did it quietly, so as to not draw attention to the utter havoc the “defund the police” movement has wreaked on this country.
But the pendulum can only swing so far left — so far into chaos country — before it must swing the other way, back to sanity. America’s nearly there.
More court cases from police against pinhead anti-policers should move the marker along nicely.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter by clicking HERE. Her latest book, “Socialists Don’t Sleep: Christians Must Rise Or America Will Fall,” is available by clicking HERE.
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