This week, U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., continued to focus on law enforcement issues, including holding a virtual roundtable with several Florida sheriffs.
Steube, who sits on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, continued to slam police reform efforts from the Democratic majority in the U.S. House.
“House Democrats’ radical approach on public safety reforms would have dangerous real-life consequences for our communities and law enforcement officers across the United States,” Steube said. “Nobody hates bad cops more than good cops and the input of our dedicated public servants is essential for any meaningful legislation.”
The sheriffs of Charlotte, Desoto, Glades, Highlands and Okeechobee Counties and representatives from law enforcement in Lee and Sarasota Counties took part in the call.
“Among topics discussed were law enforcement personnel recruitment and retention, qualified immunity, no-knock warrants in drug cases, chokehold bans, and deadly force issues,” Steube’s office noted.
Steube took aim at the proposals coming from House Democrats.
“This legislation sets forth dangerous leftist policies to defund our nation’s law enforcement offices, dismantle the police, and handicap their capabilities to keep Americans safe. This legislation includes provisions to end qualified immunity, take away important law enforcement tools and weapons, and ban no-knock warrants in drug cases,” Steube’s office maintained.
Earlier this week, Steube introduced a resolution “to condemn efforts to defund law enforcement while calling for justice after George Floyd’s tragic death.”
Steube brought out the proposal on Monday and weighed in on why he had introduced it.
“We all pray for justice for George Floyd but demands to defund the police spring from an outburst of political emotion, not a thoughtful discussion of public safety reforms,” Steube said. “Law enforcement is here to protect and serve all Americans – defunding public safety won’t solve any problems and only poses an extraordinary risk to our citizens who depend on society’s most basic governmental service of protecting life and property.”
Last week, Steube spoke at a House Judiciary Committee’s hearing titled, “Oversight Hearing on Policing Practices and Law Enforcement Accountability” and slammed the Democrats’ proposals.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.