ANALYSIS – An FU to cops. More tone deafness and narcissism from Joe Biden as he has rejected pleas from local police representatives to reschedule his upcoming Thursday visit.
Biden is going to Syracuse to promote the CHIPS and Science Act just after a Syracuse police officer and Onondaga County lieutenant sheriff's deputy were gunned down only days ago during a shootout.
Lt. Sheriff's Deputy Michael Hoosock and Police Officer Michael Jensen were murdered in an “ambush” in Salina on Sunday, April 14.
Jensen was buried in his hometown of Rome on Saturday; Hoosock's funeral was on Monday.
Members of both upstate New York law enforcement agencies are trying to mourn while also planning and attending the funerals for the fallen cops. But Biden doesn't care.
He is still planning to festively roar into town Biden Thursday to celebrate federal funding for the Micron building project in Clay.
These presidential visits require heavy police presence and man hours to support the Secret Service and White House staff, presenting a massive challenge for local law enforcement who are shattered following the deaths of two officers.
According to the Daily Caller, Jeff Moran, the president of the Syracuse Police Benevolent Association, the union representing the city's officers, told the outlet:
The department expressed their concerns to the Biden administration regarding his visit, and the quick turnaround of a Syracuse police officer being buried and an Onondaga County Sheriff's deputy being buried, and then the manpower that it would take and everything that our members have been through in the past week. Those concerns were expressed to the Biden administration and the Biden administration elected to move forward with the visit.
Moran added:
We'll have to wait to see how many volunteers actually sign up for the detail but at this point in time, we still have members out on administrative leave because of the critical incident and our protocol. I just, I can't emphasize enough, I mean, we're crushed. We're heartbroken… And now we're being told that we have to fill President Biden's detail.
But it's not only the cops and their families who are upset with Biden. CNYCentral reported last week:
Rep. Elise Stefanik, representing New York's 21st congressional district, stated:
I stand with our local Police officers in asking Joe Biden to postpone his poorly timed visit to Upstate New York in the best interest of our brave and hardworking law enforcement officers who are already facing additional strains following the death of two beloved officers only days ago. Our Upstate New York law enforcement deserve our full support from every level of government.
Rep. Nick Langworthy, representing New York's 23rd congressional district, stated:
As the grieving Syracuse community honors their fallen officers, it's disgraceful that President Biden refuses to respect their wishes. I stand with Syracuse PD, and I urge the White House to reconsider and show compassion during this difficult time.
And then, as the Daily Caller added, Republican New York Rep. Brandon Williams also expressed his concerns to the president about the trip, and respectfully asked Biden to reschedule:
In light of these tragic events, we are hearing from local law enforcement officers that personnel are still recovering from this tragedy and grieving their fallen brothers. I echo their request that you postpone this week's speaking engagement in Central New York.
I would be happy to join you in announcing this critical funding at a later date—it is worth celebrating. Mr. President, I ask you to heed the calls of local law enforcement and postpone it to a later date.
Let's see if Biden's tone deaf, anti-police, hyper politicized White House gets the message. But not holding my breath.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
