Candidate Attorney General Chuck Welch posted the following on his Facebook page:
The lead story on the evening news this past Tuesday was the tragic death of NYPD Officer Wilbert Mora, who with his partner Officer Jason Rivera was shot in Harlem while responding to a domestic call. Officer Mora was the 25th police officer to die in the line of duty in the United States so far in the first month of 2022.
Law enforcement officers are societies’ representatives. Each time an officer dies in the line of duty, a bit of society dies with it. Each time an officer is attacked, society is being attacked. Each time an officer is injured, our society is injured.
The fact is too many in today’s society have declared war on the police -a war of words, a war of anti-police laws, a war of personal and professional hatred toward those men and women who have sworn an oath to protect us. We ask and even demand that these officers end the violence in our cities and in our communities. Yet far too many in our society applaud and even encourage violence against these peacekeepers, the men and women of law enforcement.
So far this year, Delaware has been spared. We have no names to add to the wall of Delaware’s Law Enforcement Memorial. Not so in years past. We remember the slaughter of Georgetown Patrolman Chad Spicer, the brutal killing of Corrections Officer Lt. Stephen Floyd and last year’s senseless violent death of Delmar Police Corporal Keith Heacook. These officers were killed in the line of duty and we pray no more names will be added to the wall of Delaware’s Memorial.
During my time as a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas, I witnessed our brave law enforcement community at work. I listened as they detailed the crimes they observed, the victims they consoled and the fear and frustration they displayed each time they were accused of things they did not do, blamed for the things they could not control, and demeaned and threatened by those who had no right to do so.
All too often the press berates them, politicians belittle them, and lawmakers pass legislation which threaten their careers and their lives. Hearing the chant of “fry them like bacon” or learning that some fringe educators tell their students the police should be feared and not respected, sends a chill through the ranks of law enforcement. Many retired officers tell me they could never subject themselves or their families to the rigors of serving as a police officer in today’s world. Current officers often tell me they wish they had never begun their careers in law enforcement. Many say they intend to leave as soon as they can. Chiefs tell me that recruiting quality officers is extremely difficult. Recruiting for law enforcement officers has reached a critical stage.
We must stop this war on cops. As Attorney General, I will be committed to backing all our law enforcement, whether they are officers for police, corrections or probation and parole. It is time to let our cops do the job they have been trained to do, with our commitment to support them in this thankless task. I will refuse to target officers and will instead target the violent criminals who wish to harm to us and the brave men and women in uniform that protect us. We must see law enforcement for what they are: valued, capable members of our communities and our society.
Support the Blue. Stand with them as they stand up for us.
*Mr. Welch is a Republican candidate for Attorney General. He is a retired Judge of the Delaware Court of Common Pleas, serving from 2000-2020. He is also a former State Representative in Kent County