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Washington, D.C. / Rutherfordton, N.C. — Vice President J.D. Vance marked National Police Week on Wednesday with powerful tributes to fallen officers and an emphatic promise that the Trump administration will back law enforcement with both words and action. Speaking at the 44th Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service and later hosting an intimate breakfast with officers at the vice presidential residence, Vance offered unwavering praise for those who “stand between civilization and chaos.”
Since 1776, there have been 26,962 known line-of-duty deaths in America, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the lives and sacrifices of America’s fallen law enforcement officers. 651 have been in North Carolina, according to their map. 70 of them have been members of the NC Highway Patrol (state troopers), Col. Freddy Johnson, Jr. said on May 15.
“Being a law enforcement officer is more than just a job, it's a calling. It demands courage in the face of danger, unwavering integrity, and a deep commitment to the well-being of every resident in Rutherford County,” Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg said on May 12. “Our deputies answer that call day in and day out, often working long hours and facing challenging situations with professionalism and dedication. This week, we especially remember and honor those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Their bravery and selflessness will never be forgotten.”
“We love you guys, and we’re grateful for the job that you do,” Vance said at the Naval Observatory breakfast, hosted with second lady Usha Vance and attended by about two dozen state and local officers. “Our administration has made a very proud commitment to stand by American law enforcement.”
While President Donald Trump continued his Middle East tour with stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, Vance carried the torch at home, both figuratively and literally. In a prerecorded message played during the Capitol ceremony, Trump honored the 147 officers who died in the line of duty in 2024, calling them “some of the great and very best among us,” and announced the White House would be lit in blue Wednesday night in their memory.
The Capitol service, hosted by the Fraternal Order of Police, paid tribute to 345 names added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this year. Vance delivered the keynote address, drawing on scripture, personal stories, and a firm message on crime and justice.
“Law is the root of ordered liberty,” Vance said. “A society that fails to enforce its own rules can make no such promises to its people.”
Three officers’ stories drew particular focus:
Officer David Lee of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police, killed by an impaired driver while responding to a crash.
Deputy Fernando Esqueda of the Harris County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office, ambushed and killed during a manhunt.
Special Deputy Larry Henderson of Hamilton County, Ohio—Vance’s home district—was intentionally struck and killed while directing traffic at a university graduation.
“These were not statistics,” Vance told the crowd. “They were husbands, fathers, sons. Their absence is deeply personal and profoundly national.”
Beyond honoring the dead, Vance delivered a fiery critique of progressive crime policies, stating that “the defund the police movement is gone from this country,” and crediting voters and Donald Trump’s 2024 victory for its demise.
He also warned of “weak-willed municipal leaders” and “far-left prosecutors boosted by faraway billionaires,” vowing federal pressure on jurisdictions that fail to uphold the law. “We will never disparage or degrade our police officers—especially those who gave their lives for our society,” he said.
The Vice President announced that President Trump recently signed an executive order increasing legal protections for officers and expanding federal support for training and pay. The Department of Justice, he said, is actively pursuing capital charges in cases involving murdered officers.
As Chaplain Rick Snyder opened the service in prayer, invoking the biblical verse about laying down one’s life for a friend, Fraternal Order of Police President Patrick Yoes reminded attendees that each white chair at the service represented “a family forever changed.”
Vance closed his remarks with a solemn charge to the nation: “Let the example of these fallen heroes be a lesson that freedom is not inherited—it is upheld.”
The Trump administration’s policy on law enforcement, Vance affirmed, is more than rhetoric. “What our fallen heroes gave us was not just safety—it was dignity, stability, and the freedom to live our lives knowing someone was watching over us.”
Opinion & Analysis: Cops & Congress Commentary
Shifting Realities in U.S. Policing
Three Things Republicans Say, Three Things Democrats Say, and Three Things I Say About Policing in 2025
As National Police Week draws national attention to law enforcement, it's clear that the role and reputation of police officers in America remain a deeply political issue. Below are three claims often made by Republicans, three by Democrats, and three reflections of my own, based on facts, not slogans.
Three Things Republicans Say
Police need more legal protection, not more oversight.
Republicans argue that the Trump administration's rollback of Biden-era oversight tools, such as the federal police misconduct database, restores due process for officers and protects them from politically motivated investigations.Federal restrictions on tactics endangered officers.
The Biden administration imposed limits on chokeholds and no-knock warrants for federal officers. Republicans contend these policies made it harder for police to respond effectively in high-risk situations and applaud Trump's decision to restore discretion to officers on the ground.“Defund the Police” is a dangerous ideology.
Conservatives credit Trump's 2024 win with halting the political momentum of the defund movement. Vice President JD Vance recently said voters “killed” the movement in 2024—and “used Donald J. Trump as the murder weapon.”
Three Things Democrats Say
Accountability improves trust and safety.
Democrats supported the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, arguing that transparency builds public trust without undermining good officers.Use-of-force reforms save lives.
By limiting certain high-risk tactics at the federal level, Democrats aimed to reduce excessive force incidents and wrongful deaths. They say reforms did not ban all use, just required clear justification and training.Diversity and inclusion make policing better.
Democratic leaders maintain that DEI programs help agencies reflect and serve diverse communities more effectively. They see the elimination of these programs as a step backward in modern public safety management.
Three Things I Say
America needs both safety and standards.
Law enforcement officers deserve tools and support, but the public also deserves transparency and accountability. It doesn’t have to be either/or.Most Americans want common-sense policing, not extremes.
The vast majority of citizens don’t want to abolish the police, nor do they want law enforcement shielded from all scrutiny. They want crime reduced and communities respected.We must remember that behind every policy debate are real people.
As Vice President Vance reminded us, each officer lost in the line of duty leaves behind a family, a story, and a sacrifice. We honor them not only in remembrance—but by making law enforcement policy reflect reality, not partisanship.
Bottom Line:
Policing is not just a political issue. It’s a public safety issue, a community issue, and a human issue. As we reflect on the officers who gave their lives in service, may we also realize that policies need to be practical and grounded in justice and respect.
Thank you for reading and watching. Learn more about this newsletter and my background. I am guided by the Society for Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. Follow me on X (Twitter), Facebook, Linkedin, TikTok, and YouTube. Send constructive criticism, fan mail, and tips with public documents for future stories: CopsandCongress@gmail.com.
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