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President Biden paid tribute to fallen U.S. policemen on Saturday, telling families their loss was America’s loss, speaking at the 40th Annual Peace Officers Memorial Service outside the United States Capitol – and warning that the police services need more resources.
“Being a cop today is much more difficult than it ever was, and for the families of the dead you have suffered tremendous loss, but understand that your loss is America’s loss too, and your loss is also America’s loss. pain is America’s pain, â€Biden says.
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The service was held to honor the 491 law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2019 and 2020. Biden spoke just hours after three assistant Texas police officers have been Pull in an early Saturday morning “ambush” that killed at least one of them.
Biden was joined by First Lady Jill Biden and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. FBI Director Christopher Wray was present, but Attorney General Merrick Garland was not.
Biden pointed out that 2020 was the deadliest year for law enforcement and told attendees that “we are waking up to the idea that unless we change the environment in which work can be done, we’ll have a hard time getting enough women and men showing up to want to do the job. “
He also spoke on the subject of the loss, noting how, when a police officer puts on his shield, “every member of the family dreads the possibility of receiving that phone call”.
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The president spoke of his own experience with the loss of children, including the loss of a daughter and a son: “No parent should have to bury a child”.
“It’s like losing a piece of your soul,†he said. Some of you still feel like you’ve been sucked into a black hole in your chest, wondering ‘My God, will that ever change?’ “
Biden praised the Fraternal Order of Police for its openness to some elements of the police reform measures that were promoted in Washington following the death of George Floyd and the protests that followed in 2020.
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However, he continued to push back on some aspects of the demands made by Defund the Police activists. He pledged more funding for “community policing” and mental health assistance.
“It’s a tough time being a police officer in America so I want to make sure you have the tools to be the partners and protectors that communities need,†he said.
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