Statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors on Mayors’ Escalating Safety and Security Needs

Washington, DC-Below is a statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran on mayors' escalating safety and security needs:

"Mayors serve closest to the people, and that visibility makes them among the most accessible - and, unfortunately, the most exposed - public officials in America. As politically motivated violence has escalated, mayors and their families have been subject to heightened scrutiny and direct threats, including when their private information becomes public. We have been counseling and supporting mayors with resources and strategies to help them protect themselves and their families, but it has become increasingly urgent in recent months. Local law enforcement plays a critical role in protecting mayors so that they can continue to serve their communities without fear for the safety of their families or themselves.

For the past several years at our national meetings, the Conference has convened executive sessions with leading experts in which mayors were briefed on the critical importance of personal security given increasing incidents of political violence in the United States. To further support mayors and their police departments address these security risks, the U.S. Conference of Mayors is now partnering with the Police Executive Research Forum to bring police personnel from cities of various sizes together to discuss the issues they face around mayoral security.

Recently San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has been subjected to increased threats and is now being criticized for the measures the city is taking to protect her, which were leaked to and reported by local media.

Let me be clear, these threats are real, and they must be taken seriously. Any form of political violence is unacceptable, and we must rely on all members of our communities to work together to ensure our elected leaders are protected and can continue to serve safely."