Sam Graves: I will always oppose efforts to defund the police

(From Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves)

On the evening of September 12, 2020, two Los Angeles County deputy sheriffs were sitting in their parked patrol vehicle when an unidentified gunman walked up to their passenger window and opened fire on them. 

As the gunman fled, Deputy Claudia Apolinar helped her partner out of the patrol vehicle, rendered first aid, and radioed for assistance to ensure no civilians were wounded or killed in the incident. She did all this after suffering multiple gunshot wounds to the face and torso.

Her unimaginable courage and fortitude in the face of such danger are the definition of heroism, but it wasn’t a hero’s welcome the 31-year-old and her partner received when they arrived at St. Francis Medical Center. Instead, they were met with protestors who attempted to block the entrance and exit to the hospitals emergency room and yelled “we hope they die."

By the grace of God, Deputy Apolinar and her partner survived this cold-blooded ambush, which has undoubtedly changed their lives forever. The level of hate and vitriol directed at them as both struggled for their lives in the hospital is a damning indictment of how rapidly and pervasively anti-police rhetoric has infected our country.

To wish for the deaths of two innocent police officers who have dedicated their lives to protecting our communities while attempting to block the entrance to an emergency room is simply beyond the pale. There is simply no excuse for such depraved, hateful, and dangerous behavior. Sadly, it’s too often become the norm, as police officers are targeted for violent attacks and irresponsible politicians stoke the flames with their calls to “defund the police."

Their calls to slash the paychecks of our law enforcement officers are exactly the opposite of what America needs. We need leaders with the courage to stand up and defend the police. These heroes put their lives on the line every single day to keep our communities secure and our families safe. They put themselves in harms way to get dangerous criminals off the streets. They enforce the laws that make it possible for all of us to enjoy the great freedoms of our constitutional republic.

They need our help to ensure they have the training and resources to get the job done. While others may cower to the masses and attack our police officers, I’ll always stand up for what’s right. I’ll always support and defend our men and women in blue and I’ll always oppose efforts to defund the police.