Opinion: When policing becomes political, public safety suffers

"Over the past few months, a troubling pattern has emerged across America's major cities. As President Donald Trump's administration dispatches federal agents and National Guard troops to jurisdictions often over the objections of local residents and leaders police departments are being forced to navigate an increasingly precarious position. If they embrace federal intervention, they risk being seen as acting against the will of the communities they serve."

"If they fail to align with Washington's agenda, they invite political backlash for not showing unquestioning loyalty to the thin blue line that unites law enforcement. This no-win situation is yet another symptom of the growing politicization of law enforcement and public safety. And as a retired police lieutenant who spent more than two decades on the force, I see this trend as an existential threat to the legitimacy our profession relies on to be effective."

"Anyone who has worked in this field knows that policing can only function through community trust and cooperation. Our ability to uphold safety depends on the public's belief that police are there to protect them not to serve as an occupying force or an arm of political power. Federal encroachment on local policing blurs that line, creating a tightrope act that's proving difficult for departments to balance."

"In the Chicago area, federal law enforcement's heavy-handed tactics have put local police directly in the crossfire, both literally and figuratively. After federal agents repeatedly deployed tear gas in residential neighborhoods exposing at least 40 Chicago police officers and countless bystanders a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the use of certain types of force against protesters. In nearby Broadview, federal agents have also tear-gassed local police officers outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility that has drawn regular protests."

Federal and National Guard deployments into major U.S. cities have placed local police departments in an untenable position between community expectations and federal directives. Embracing federal intervention risks being seen as serving political ends rather than protecting residents, while rejecting Washington invites accusations of disloyalty to broader law enforcement. The resulting politicization undermines the community trust essential for effective policing and threatens the legitimacy of the profession. Heavy-handed federal tactics, including tear gas in residential neighborhoods, have directly impacted local officers and civilians, prompting judicial limits and straining relationships between federal and local agencies.

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