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Texas Municipal Police Association Appalled By Robert “Beto” O’Rourke’s Characterization of Law Enforcement As The “New Jim Crow”

Texas Democratic Senate candidate Robert “Beto” O’Rourke’s sweeping allegations that officers profile and target African-Americans is a gross mischaracterization.

AUSTIN, TX – September 21, 2018 – The Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA) is shocked to learn that Texas Democratic Senate candidate Robert O’Rourke is calling law enforcement the “new Jim Crow” during a speech Wednesday at Prairie View A&M University.

Mr. O’Rourke’s dangerous and incorrect characterization of law enforcement officers not only across our great state, but nationwide, is divisive and plainly untrue. O’Rourke taking aim at officers is an insult that further divides public safety from the very people they are sworn to protect due to the outrage incited by his false narrative. Racist accusations about the dedicated, hardworking men and women who don a uniform daily to protect and serve our communities are disgusting and disrespectful. It is critical to remember the number of law enforcement officers who have been assaulted and murdered simply because of the uniform they wear. O’Rourke’s inflammatory speech is particularly surprising since it follows a tweet he made four days prior, praising law enforcement officers who are “keeping our communities and our state safe.”

TMPA President Aaron Crowell shares his hope that “if Mr. O’Rourke truly believes the things he is saying we can easily debunk them with factual information, given the opportunity for discussion. However, if this is simply an incredibly damaging narrative created to motivate a voting bloc, then shame on him and his campaign. We would hope that the voting public at large would see the true motive of his words and be as offended as we are. Using the power of a political campaign to malign and divide the very citizens he would represent is not what Texas is about.” Crowell calls for a complete redaction of O’Rourke’s comments and requests an apology from him on behalf of the 28,000 law enforcement officers we represent. Our partners in TLEC share our thoughts and together we represent nearly 37,000 law enforcement officers and the Texas Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).

TMPA was founded in 1950 and has protected the interests of law enforcement officers ever since. As the largest law enforcement association in Texas, TMPA is proud to represent more than 28,000 local, county and state law enforcement officers across Texas.

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