NABLEO Responds To FOP Call For Support of Law Enforcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dated: Monday January 19, 2026
Recently, the National Fraternal Order of Police released a statement calling for the American public to support the efforts of the many men and women employed as law enforcement officers in the many local, state, and federal agencies across the country who perform their duties with selflessness, professionalism, and courage, often under immense pressure and in sometimes rapidly evolving situations. In their statement they indicated that the support of the common citizen is essential to these activities, each of which is crucial to upholding the rule of law and the maintenance of public safety.
While it should be considered an absolute maxim that the support of the community is vital to the success or failure of the work of every law enforcement agency, maintaining community-based credibility requires the highest level of accountability and adherence to the utmost professional standards. In other words, it must be recognized that public support of law enforcement, and the sense of legitimacy that it imparts, must be earned. It cannot, and will not, be granted merely because it is being asked for.
In their statement they additionally recognize that the credibility of the law enforcement profession rests specifically on the levels of accountability, transparency, and adherence to high standards that are viewed by those we serve.
When the communities we protect view the members of our profession as ruthless and lacking in respect and human dignity, we are failing our mission. When our most critical acts requiring the most stringent and unbiased judgment are met with statements or investigative procedures that seem to convey a strong aura of predetermination or perceptual pre-judgement, we are failing our mission. For the fundamental principle of the rule of law to matter, due process of law must be applied to one and all equally, to include those who carry a badge and weapon. When our investigative procedures give a strong aura of pre-determination, or perceptually prejudicial closure, the trust and confidence of the community in those who are sworn to protect them is, unfortunately and most certainly, shattered, cast asunder, and will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to be rebuilt.
While we may agree that the fundamental principal of due process of law must be applied to one and all, to include those who carry a badge and weapon, we must also agree that the statements that have been made by those who have been charged with the task of conducting the investigation of exactly what took place in Minneapolis, strongly provide the appearance of a rush to a pre-determined judgement, and serve no lawful purpose, providing the presumption of a dual standard – one for law enforcement and one for the common citizen that is being asked to support them.
Thus, the members of NABLEO again strongly urge the federal government to immediately include local authorities in the investigation of this incident so as to ensure a full, unbiased and transparent investigation, rather than one which gives the appearance of being tainted by prejudicial determinations. It must be recognized that the aura of such inclusiveness will, ultimately, generate the trust, sense of legitimacy, and levels of support that the FOP now asks the community to provide.
In the final analysis, the support that is being requested can only be earned by showing the community that they are respected, with the understanding and recognition that it is WE who serve THEM, and not the reverse. When they are shown a lack of respect or the failure to recognize their sense of human dignity, there can be no possibility for earning their support, nor should we expect it.
The National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Inc, a 501.(c).(3) non-profit, is a premier national organization representing the interests and concerns of African American, Latino and other criminal justice practitioners of color serving in law enforcement, corrections, and investigative agencies throughout the United States, and the communities in which they serve.
