The Fraternal Order of Police’s Cream City Lodge is calling out Milwaukee elected officials for engaging in “divisive” and “dangerous” rhetoric against federal law enforcement officers engaging in targeted law enforcement operations in Milwaukee.
“The Fraternal Order of Police calls upon Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, and members of the Milwaukee Common Council to stop undermining federal law enforcement, stop discouraging interagency cooperation, and stop placing political activism ahead of public safety,” the news release said.
“Since ICE began its targeted enforcement operation in Milwaukee late last week, the response from certain Milwaukee elected officials has been disappointing, divisive, and dangerous,” FOP wrote in a news release. “Rather than supporting law enforcement officers carrying out lawful federal operations, city leaders have chosen to side with political activist organizations such as Voces de la Frontera while advancing policies and rhetoric that discourage cooperation with federal law enforcement.”
The Fraternal Order of Police “stands firmly with the men and women of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the release said. “ICE officers are sworn federal law enforcement officers. They enforce laws enacted by Congress, take an oath to the Constitution, and carry out difficult and often dangerous duties on behalf of the American people. They deserve respect, cooperation, and professional support, not political attacks.”
In recent months, Milwaukee officials “have advanced measures intended to limit cooperation with ICE and adopted ordinances attempting to regulate how federal officers conduct lawful enforcement operations, including demands that officers remove protective face coverings while performing their duties,” added the release. “These actions are misguided and irresponsible.”
FOP continued: “Law enforcement agencies have worked together for generations because public safety depends on cooperation, not political interference. Efforts to discourage assistance between local and federal authorities do not make Milwaukee safer. They create unnecessary barriers between agencies that share the same mission of enforcing the law and protecting the public.”
The Fraternal Order of Police “is especially troubled by demands that federal officers abandon safety measures during enforcement operations. Across the country, officers face increasing threats, harassment, and attempts to identify and target them and their families. Public officials should be focused on officer safety, not undermining it,” adds the release.
“Equally troubling is the fact that Milwaukee’s elected leadership appears far more willing to listen to activist organizations such as Voces de la Frontera than to experienced law enforcement professionals who deal daily with crime and public safety realities. Public policy should not be driven by political pressure campaigns. It should be grounded in facts, experience, and the rule of law,” they wrote. “The people of Milwaukee deserve leaders who support all law enforcement officers, respect the Constitution, and understand that public safety depends on cooperation, professionalism, and mutual respect among every agency sworn to protect our communities.”
