Rep. Pfluger Denounces Rise in Violence Against Law Enforcement Officers

WASHINGTON, DC-Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security's Counterterrorism and Intelligence Subcommittee, took direct aim at the rising anti-police rhetoric during the full committee hearing, "When Badges Become Targets: How Anti-Law Enforcement Rhetoric Fuels Violence Against Officers."

Rep. Pfluger opened by thanking the frontline officers for their unwavering commitment to protecting our communities, especially as they face a dangerous spike in threats, particularly in areas where local leaders openly undermine law enforcement. The witnesses affirmed his concerns, confirming that hostile police rhetoric has directly increased danger for officers and their families. They also discussed why the increasingly accepted doxing of law enforcement officers is a significant reason many must wear face coverings for their own protection.

Rep. Pfluger has repeatedly underscored that threats against law enforcement, ICE, and DHS personnel are unacceptable and un-American. In line with this, Rep. Pfluger recently introduced a resolution to condemn the rise in violent threats to our ICE agents and facilities. Read more about this resolution here.

Witnesses included Michael Hughes, Executive Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Jonathan Thompson, Executive Director and CEO of the National Sheriffs' Association, Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, and Daniel Hodges, Law Enforcement Officer, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, testifying as a private citizen. Watch the full committee hearing here.

Watch Rep. Pfluger's full line of questioning HEREor by clicking the image below.

Read highlights from the hearing below:

Rep. Pfluger: Mr. Thompson, in jurisdictions that are led by elected officials with anti-police agendas, where local governments have undermined policing capacity and have allowed crime and violence against officers to rise, do you believe that the Trump administration is taking the right approach by deploying federal law enforcement resources to stabilize these areas?

Jonathan Thompson: I do. I believe it's long overdue...We hear these stories of the failures in law enforcement, and they are minuscule. Last year, there were 250,000 deaths from medical malpractice. I don't hear anybody calling for the elimination of doctors in medicine for medical malpractice. Maybe somebody could show me what's being done on an equal level to that. And we need doctors. We need nurses. But we also need civility, and the rule of law has long been the backbone of this country. And it has to be civil. And it has to be fair and transparent. And it has to be sought after for perfection. To quote Lombardi, you seek perfection in the hopes that you'll get to excellence. Mistakes? Absolutely. When they break the law, let the Justice Department, let your local DA, come in and take action.

Rep. Pfluger: Well, that's been a problem as well, that many local DAs fail to prosecute violent crimes, which is why we see a rise in violent crime in many cities that are run by elected officials like this. Mr. Hughes, what's the feeling when you hear elected officials and other people talk about doxing law enforcement or giving their position away? What's the feeling there?

Michael Hughes: Well, doxing, as we know, has become a huge problem and is one of the reasons that face coverings are being used now. It has really opened up a lot of law enforcement and their families to threats. And that is a problem. Think about yourself. If you were a law enforcement officer or had a child or a spouse who was in law enforcement and that was going on, that would incense anybody, I think. It would make you think twice about the face coverings, as well as if you had a different opinion, because that could protect you as well from the doxing.

Rep. Pfluger: Can you give us the operational reasons that the face coverings are used in addition to the prevention of doxing for their safety or their personal safety of their families?

Michael Hughes: Well, besides doxing, we used face coverings just for operational purposes, especially when we did execution of warrants and things like that for protection. So that's outside. That would be in a particular operational setting.

Rep. Pfluger: Tactics, techniques, and procedures that are designed to keep the officer safe. It's just disgusting to see the destruction and the complete pushback on the rule of law. And you know, whether it's violence that's perpetrated against law enforcement, or those who are wearing the uniforms, whether it's doxing, or whether it's colleagues who say you don't have to follow orders of the Commander in Chief, it's really a sad situation that we find ourselves in. We thank you for the work that you do. We thank those who wear the uniform and serve in these dangerous situations, and I yield back.