UNDATED – U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (PA-R) was one of the speakers over the weekend at a rally to support law enforcement. It was held in Philadelphia following what has been a violent couple months nationwide, where 10 police officers have been shot in 2015, says Toomey.
He says, “The men and women who put on that blue uniform and protect us day in and day out from Philadelphia, across the Commonwealth and across the country, are overwhelmingly a very honorable group of folks who take great risks and make big sacrifices for our security. Recently, I don’t think they have gotten the recognition and appreciation they are due.”
There has been tension nationwide recently dealing with the targeting of police officers, and on the other side, police officers using fatal force against perpetrators, particularly African Americans, “Police forces are made of human beings. All humans are fallible, so there are no perfect human institutions. But, I have been on this planet for 53 years and in my experience the police who put on those uniforms, risk their lives and make great personable sacrifices for us, overwhelmingly majority of them do it honorably and they serve the people of their community. I think at a time like this, it is a very constructive thing to let them know we appreciate that.”
Nearly 200 people gathered for the rally Saturday on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. (Sara Bartlett)