Last year more than 100 police officers were killed in the line of duty. Those were men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to protect the rest of us. We see them dressed in their official uniforms as figures of authority, but we must remember that they are also mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.
When I was Mayor of Fort Worth, I implemented a program that brought community members and law enforcement together to keep our neighborhoods safe. We consulted with community leaders, clergy, and police in creating this program. This strategy reduced crime in the city by 49 percent. I saw first-hand the professionalism and dedication of so many of our law enforcement personnel, as well as the commitment of community members to keep their neighborhood safe.
This week was National Police Week. Ever since this week was created in 1962, Congress has worked to honor our brave police officers. I want to highlight two bills I voted for this week.
The first bill I voted for is the Thin Blue Line Act. This bill would make it easier for juries to charge those who murder state and local police with the death penalty. In the past few years, police officers across the country have increasingly been stalked and targeted for simply doing their jobs. This bill takes an important step to providing justice for our fallen officers.
The second is the Probation Officer Protection Act, which would expand the authority of probation officers to make arrests when they are being threatened or attacked while doing their jobs. Probation officers have a crucial job and their ability to defend themselves is important for the criminal justice system.
I am proud to have helped advance these important bills and I encourage everyone to remember every day those who answer the call to protect and serve.
Sincerely,
Kay Granger
Member of Congress