Athena Thorne – PJMedia.com
In theory, enforcement of the law is simple: Enforce the law. But what happens when half of the citizenry rejects the law itself?
The International Association of Chiefs of Police bills itself as “the world’s largest and most influential professional association for police leaders [and] is committed to advancing the safety of communities worldwide.” It does an admirable job of remaining above the political fray, platforms elected officials of all bents, and updates its policies regularly to lead police through changing attitudes and new research. But all the while, this venerable law-enforcement organization assumes that we are all on the same side.
The IACP called on the White House on Sunday to convene a joint federal–state–local discussion on public safety (emphasis added):
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is concerned by the ongoing challenges affecting public safety, law enforcement professionals, and the communities they serve. Periods of heightened tension place significant strain on public safety systems and underscore the need for stability, professionalism, and respect for constitutional principles.
The IACP emphasizes that effective public safety depends on comprehensive training, investigative integrity, adherence to the rule of law, and strong coordination among federal, state, and local partners. In times of uncertainty, officials at all levels play a critical role in de-escalating tensions by using measured, responsible rhetoric that reinforces lawful processes and public trust rather than deepening division.
The IACP urges leaders and stakeholders to support calm, lawful engagement and policies grounded in proven practice that strengthen accountability while preserving the capacity of law enforcement agencies to coordinate effectively and protect communities.
The IACP reaffirms its commitment to the constitutional protections that safeguard individuals from unlawful or unreasonable searches and seizures, recognizing that public trust and effective policing depend on faithful adherence to these fundamental rights. At the same time, the IACP underscores that officer safety is inseparable from community safety and must remain a fundamental priority in all public safety decisions.
For these reasons, the IACP calls on the White House to use its convening authority, as soon as practicable, to bring together thoughtful federal, state and local law enforcement leaders for policy level discussions aimed at identifying a constructive path forward.
The IACP is 100% correct that inter-agency cooperation and coordination at all levels is the proper way to prevent the unrest we are seeing in Minnesota right now.
But the organization also seems sadly naive in its belief that everyone agrees. Certainly, if the locals respected the law and participated in enforcing it at all levels, there would be zero chaos in Minnesota and other “sanctuary” regimes this very minute. Local authorities would honor ICE detainers and hand over arrestees in an orderly fashion when they had them in custody. But instead, they release them back into the population to wreak havoc. Any cop will tell you that arrest is the most dangerous moment of an encounter, and “sanctuary” policies force federal agents into that fraught box at every turn. Leftist leaders and authorities then escalate the danger to federal enforcement officers by refusing to manage the mobs that show up to interfere. They are the masters of this tragic chaos, no matter how much they howl that “Trump’s Gestapo” is the problem.