For Publication
Friday, July 29, 2022
The Column Below is For Publication
Over the past week, I have been fortunate enough to meet with law enforcement officers from Savannah to Alpharetta to hear their stories. For years, I’ve trained and worked with law enforcement at the federal and local levels. Through these experiences, I’ve seen the dedication and courage of these true heroes firsthand.
At the height of 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with civil unrest, they didn’t miss a beat. They knew their communities were depending on them, and many paid the ultimate price.
In 2021 alone, 129 officers lost their lives in the line of duty. Among those 129 were incredible Georgia police officers, Officer Harrison and Officer Desai.
26-year-old Dylan Harrison with the Alamo Police Department in Georgia was tragically killed in an ambush-style attack. He was known for his kindness and desire to help people, and he was dedicated to serving his community. Officer Harrison left behind a wife and six-month-old son.
Henry County Police Officer Paramhans Desai was shot after responding to a domestic call. He wanted to give back to the country that had given everything to his family, and his colleagues said he was one of the most caring and dedicated men they ever met. Officer Desai left behind a wife and two young sons.
Unfortunately, as of June 30, 2022, there have been nearly 19% more officers killed this year compared to last year and we’re only halfway through the year. A total of 178 officers have been killed in the line of duty. This is unacceptable and we need new leadership to address this crisis, not the same old same old.
Our First Amendment guarantees all Americans the right to peacefully protest, but when activist groups, the media, and politicians direct their rage toward police and imply that violence against them is justified, it can be a matter of life and death for officers and the communities they serve.
The rule of law matters in this country, something Joe Biden and Raphael Warnock seem to have forgotten. Those who are willing to sacrifice their lives to enforce it deserve more respect than they are getting from politicians in Washington. I promise to work with anyone who is committed to making the lives of Georgians safer and I will always back the blue.
