For Immediate Release – May 14, 2021
Congresswoman Mary Miller Urges Support for Law Enforcement During National Police Week
WASHINGTON – In honor of National Police Week, Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15) is calling on area residents to not only show appreciation for police officers but also to join her in pushing back on the Far Left’s efforts to defund the police, which are making our communities less safe.
(Congresswoman Miller meets with Mt. Carmel Police Department)
“There is a direct correlation between the rise in violence and the efforts to defund the police,” Miller said. “Criminals know police departments are overwhelmed and short-staffed and they are taking full advantage of the situation. What is happening in many communities across the country is horrifying.
The ‘Defund the Police’ movement is gaining momentum. Just recently, the City of St. Louis decided to defund its police department even though St. Louis is ranked the second most violent city in the nation.”
“Many people in Illinois’ 15th Congressional District go to work in St. Louis,” Miller said. “The idea that St. Louis could become even more unsafe is frightening to me and certainly to many others who live in the 15th.”
The continued assault on police officers is leading to early retirements in police stations. The assault is also discouraging people from joining the force. In Illinois, Marion County Sheriff Rick Stevenson recently retired, and he cited the hostile environment facing law enforcement officials as a reason why he decided to retire.
“This is not one of those stories where something is happening in another part of the country,” Miller said. “It is happening here and we cannot ignore it. For the sake of the safety of communities, we need to support out police force.”
(Congresswoman Miller joined House Republicans in Washington, DC in a bike ride around the city with U.S. Capitol Police)
Miller also noted that while law enforcement is being attacked and police departments are being stripped of funding, violent criminals are being put back on the streets.
Effingham Deputy Police Chief Kurt Davis is living this nightmare every day. His grandfather, State Trooper Layton Davis, was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop on I-57 near Effingham in 1976. He was not aware that the vehicle contained two escaped convicts. One of the convicts had a .357 caliber revolver on his person. Davis spotted the revolver and a struggle ensued. The second convict held Davis down while the first convict shot and killed him. Both convicts, Aaron Hyche and James Taylor were sentenced to 100 plus years in prison, but now, Taylor has been granted parole due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“One of the board members reiterated to the board that Mr. Taylor was actually kneeling with both knees on my grandfather’s arm, and that arm contained my grandfather’s service revolver, and that he was preventing my grandfather from being able to defend himself against both of the men,” Davis said. “Apparently that didn’t matter to the board — or eight of them, anyway.”
Miller said Davis’ story is sadly all too common. Criminals by the thousands are being released under the guise of protecting them from COVID-19 and many of the people being released are violent offenders.
“This is a perfect storm,” Miller said. “On the one hand, criminals are pouring out of our prisons and on the other hand we have cops quitting because we have far-left politicians trying to defund police departments. This is all adding up to make our communities less safe.”
Miller said she is setting up a law enforcement round table group to help push back and to help build support. The group will be comprised of law enforcement officials throughout the 15th District and the group will have its first meeting in June.
“It is not right that an entire profession is being painted with a broad brush simply because of the actions of a few,” Miller said. “We have to back the blue and support the people who protect us and keep our communities safe. We need police. Otherwise, every city will become as lawless as Portland, Seattle and others. The men and women who wear the uniform have taken an oath to protect and serve. They deserve to be celebrated, not vilified.”
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