Skip to playerSkip to main contentSkip to footer
  • 5/14/2025
During Wednesday’s House Republican Leadership hearing, Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL) discussed support to police stations during National Police Week.

Category

🗞
News
Transcript
00:01Thank you, Lisa, and thank all of you for being here today.
00:06I appreciate what the Republican caucus has done to prove to our law enforcement officers
00:15over these last several days that we do have their backs.
00:19And I can tell you as a lifelong law enforcement officer and sheriff of Jacksonville for 12 years,
00:25I know all too well about the service and sacrifice our nation's brave law enforcement officers make every day
00:33and the sacrifice of their loved ones. Never forget that.
00:38Anyone who's put on a badge and answered the call of duty knows the dangers that may await.
00:43They know that going in.
00:45Sadly, that is the reality officers and their families accept each time
00:50they put their lives in harm's way to protect others.
00:56Putting on a badge has become increasingly more dangerous.
01:01In 2024, 148 officers tragically lost their lives in the line of duty.
01:0779 of those were shot in ambush-style attacks, and 18 resulted in deaths.
01:16Eight officers were killed in Florida alone, my state.
01:20The fifth highest number of officer deaths per state.
01:24We must do more to protect those who protect us.
01:28But it's also very important that when we ask them to put their lives in jeopardy,
01:34to step into that breach, that they know that this Congress has their back.
01:40And they know that now.
01:42And this means ensuring that they have the resources needed to apprehend dangerous criminals,
01:47keep officers safe, and increase retention and recruitment
01:52so that these officers have the tools that they need to be safe on the street.
01:57I'm honored to stand here today to call on all Americans to back our officers.
02:03You know, these National Memorial Weeks, I'm always reminded of a talk that Ralph Waldo Emerson once said.
02:14They said the purpose in life is not to be happy.
02:19It's to be useful.
02:22It's to be honorable.
02:24It's to be compassionate.
02:27It's to have lived well and made some difference with your life.
02:34I can tell you all of those officers whose names are inscribed on the wall at the National Memorial,
02:42they all live well.
02:45And I thank this conference, particularly thank the Speaker for going to the Memorial this morning
02:52and laying wreaths with several officers from my jurisdiction that came up and others from Minnesota.
03:00And I really appreciate you having them, and thank you very much.

Recommended