The Patriot Post® · Dear Victims — in the Wake of Leftists' Defunding of Police

There is a dramatic crime surge in Democrat-controlled cities nationwide, particularly those where leftist mayors have prevented police from defending the public and are actively defunding police operations. That surge includes a 30% increase in homicides in New York, where six people were murdered over the weekend.

Recall that in June, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio’s $1 billion cut to the Police Department’s budget was passed by his leftist city council.

The New York Police Benevolent Association, which represents 24,000 NYPD officers, noted in response to the cuts and crime surge: “The reasons aren’t complicated. Our city politicians have demonized us at every turn and in the process stripped us of necessary tools to get guns off the streets. When cops are left handling crime with a ‘light touch,’ violent gangs step into the void and reign terror on NYers.” The crime surge has prompted 80% of black residents in New York and across the nation to affirm they want cops protecting their neighborhoods.

Trump has warned de Blasio that he will deploy federal LEOs to safeguard federal institutions. That prompted this alternate-universe response from de Blasio : “I don’t doubt for a moment things are swinging back the other way very quickly. … The bottom line is, the NYPD is, obviously, as they have done for decades upon decades, they are the people who can help us address this issue and end this violence and that’s who I’m relying on.”

Apparently de Blasio did not get the memo that the NYPD police union, for the first time in decades, endorsed a presidential candidate. Of course it was not Joe Biden and his presidential designee Kamala Harris. Announcing the endorsement, NYCPBA President Patrick Lynch told Donald Trump: “In the New York City PBA, sir, you earn the endorsement and you’ve earned this endorsement. I’m proud to give it.” In response, President Trump noted succinctly, “No one will be safe in Biden’s America.”

In Portland, Oregon, where the mayor and city council are defunding police and refusing to prosecute rioters, the Oregon State Police, who were called in by the governor and mayor to relieve federal law enforcement officials, fired a strong shot over the bow of that state’s politicians. In an official statement announcing they were pulling out of Portland, the OSP declared: “The Oregon State Police is continually reassessing our resources and the needs of our partner agencies and at this time we are inclined to move those resources back to counties where prosecution of criminal conduct is still a priority.”

In Texas, where the Austin City Council just cut 30% of that city’s police budget, Governor Greg Abbott responded: “Some cities are more focused on political agendas than public safety. Austin’s decision puts the brave men and women of the Austin Police Department and their families at greater risk and paves the way for lawlessness. Public safety is job one, and Austin has abandoned that duty. The legislature will take this issue up next session, but in the meantime, the Texas Department of Public Safety will stand in the gap to protect our capital city.”

The actions in Austin also prompted this letter from one police officer, whose words are applicable to every Democrat urban center:

Dear Community,

We have served with the best of our ability for many years. We have missed anniversaries, birthdays, funerals, sports, and many other things so we could be there for you. When you called, we came. When you were being victimized, we stepped in and stopped it. When you were on your last breath, we gave you another and another. As many as it took to keep you alive. We held your child and loved on them when they were scared. We comforted you when your loved ones passed. We put our lives in harm’s way when the wolf came for you. When you ran from gunfire, we ran towards it. When you sat trapped in your car, we held your hand until the rescue crew could cut you out. We bought you lunch when others walked by and did nothing. We brought justice to your family when someone was taken from you. We gave you a voice when you had none. We stepped in when you couldn’t protect yourself. We saved your sons, daughters, husbands, aunts, brothers, and sisters.

The day came when we needed your help, but you never showed. When we asked you to stand up and give us a voice, you remained silent. When we were at our lowest, you offered no help. When we were being attacked, you watched from afar. When the time came for you to fight for us, you stayed home and kept silent. (To those who didn’t, thank you.)

[Now], when the wolf puts a bomb at your doorstep, we won’t be there. When a drunk driver kills your family member, we won’t be there. When your family member is drowning at the lake, we won’t be there. When someone crashes into your car, we won’t be there. When gangs take over your neighborhood, we won’t be there. When you’re assaulted, we won’t be there. When your child is lost, we won’t be there to find them.

We won’t be there because your Austin City Council has shut down almost every unit needed to keep you safe and be there for you. They took everything from you while you sat in silence. They did it for their own personal gain and political agenda. They won’t be there for you and made sure we couldn’t either.

Your Guardian, An Austin Police Officer

P.S. Don’t expect the surge in violence to let up before Election Day. According to Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), one of the uber-leftist “Gang of Four,” a.k.a. “The Squad,” who are the House protagonists leading the socialist surge, “There needs to be unrest in the streets for as long as there is unrest in our lives.”