Vice President Vance Addresses Law Enforcement at National Police Week Event

Vice President JD Vance said on Friday that public safety is the birthright of every American citizen. Speaking at a National Police Week address to the Fraternal Order of Police and other law enforcement organizations at the Capitol, Vance contrasted the administration's record in supporting law enforcement with that of Democrats.

Vance stated that while there will always be people who want to commit crimes, policies that gave them free rein to attack law enforcement officers represented a choice. He pointed to Congress behind him as he spoke and promised that the administration will not allow policymakers to permit violent criminals to attack police officers.

The vice president said the administration stopped handcuffing the police and started handcuffing more violent criminals. He added that it has restored a culture that supports officers when they perform their work rather than second-guessing them. Vance said the administration ended the practice of micro-management of state and local police that began under the last administration.

He closed his remarks by arguing that security should not be treated as a privilege reserved for wealthy Americans or public officials with government protection. As vice president, Vance noted he is entitled to a Secret Service security detail, but most people must rely on the police.

He told the audience that the United States was founded on the principle that everyone, whether rich or poor or black or white, deserves safety and security in their neighborhoods. "Security is not just something for the rich and the powerful," Vance said.

" He added that law enforcement officers are the ones who fight for, enforce and protect that principle, and that he is forever indebted to them. Republicans have leaned on public safety and support for law enforcement as a contrast with Democrats since the 2020 George Floyd protests, as some Democrats embraced the defund the police movement.

The vice president's speech highlighted changes from policies of the prior administration. Vance said the current approach focuses on supporting officers instead of subjecting them to micro-management from federal officials. He stated that the administration has shifted from restricting police to targeting violent criminals.