National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers Speaks Out On Pardons and Commutations of Convicted Persons

The recent pardons issued by both former President Joseph Biden and current President Donald Trump have grave and serious implications for how the worth of law enforcement officers in this country is now perceived.

On the one hand, the commutation of sentence given to Leonard Peltier by former President Biden, a person who was convicted for the murder of two federal agents in 1975, while seemingly a gift to the various groups who have advocated vigorously for his release, served no true or meaningful impact on the search for justice.

However, the introduction of that issue as any part of a statement against the pardons issued by President Trump clearly obfuscates a significant message that is now being sent to the law enforcement community that he says he supports. It is the effect and impact of the full pardons issued by President Trump that clearly must take the forefront of the current conversation.

His act of executive privilege has shown a belligerent, and totally disrespectful attitude towards the more than 120 federal and municipal law enforcement officers who were assaulted and wounded by his supporters during their attempt to take over the nations’ capitol. And while, unlike Peltier, many of the insurrectionists that he has continued to claim to be “hostages and patriots” did not have any known firearms (although there were indeed some who did), their weapons of choice (flagpoles, batons, bear spray, tasers and fire extinguishers) were just as damaging and harmful. Their actions caused the deaths of not less than five law enforcement officers whose only concerns were the protection of those whose lives were in danger.

Among those pardoned were numerous offenders who openly admitted to their acts of violence and mayhem against sworn law enforcement personnel, including at least one who admitted to attempting to take an officer’s weapon to use it against him.

This should, however, not be looked at as a surprising instance as the intent to issue these pardons was made known constantly throughout the electoral campaign. The granting of pardons to the perpetrators of the most damaging assault on the nations’ capitol and rule of law in it’s history was a well-known intent, and one which showed no empathy for those law enforcement officers whose lives were in jeopardy during that day of chaos and fomented anger.

To the members of the United States Capitol Police and DC Metropolitan Police, please know that, as a body of men and women who serve as criminal justice practitioners alongside of those who were injured during the assault on the capitol, we understand and agree with your anger, confusion and feelings of outrage and insult. We stand with you in your calls for accountability and assurances of safety for your families.

To our members and affiliates, we pledge to remain vigilant to those issues which directly impact our presence and services to the communities that we have sworn our oaths to protect and serve. We, of all people, recognize the struggles that you face each day and honor your commitment to the rule of law, the showing of dignity and recognition of humanity that you bestow upon those you encounter, and your efforts to improve the relationships between those in our profession and those we actually serve.

And to our counterparts who are now voicing their disdain and displeasure with the results of the past few days. While your complaints may be justified, they must eventually fall on deaf ears as your known fervent endorsement, even while the intent to complete this act was being constantly and fully communicated both before and after your endorsements were made, shows a lack of due diligence on your part. Consequently, it may be said that you have reaped what you sowed, and must now live with your decision.

As professional members of the criminal justice system, Line of Duty deaths and injuries is a fear that we all have and face each day that we put on our uniforms. And holding those responsible is an expectation that we have, and righteously deserve, from the profession we serve and those who administer it. In this instance, we have been not only ignominiously disrespected but ill-served as well.

The National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Inc, a 501.(c).(3) non-profit, is a premier national organization representing the interests and concerns of African American, Latino and other criminal justice practitioners of color serving in law enforcement, corrections, and investigative agencies throughout the United States, and the communities in which they serve.