GLENDALE – On Monday, Glendale’s entire City Council joined in support of Mayor Jerry Weiers’ statement in support of the city’s police department and in opposition to any potential push to “Defund the Police.”
Vice-Mayor Ray Malnar, and Councilmembers Joyce Clark, Ian Hugh, Lauren Tolmachoff, Jamie Aldama, and Bart Turner announced their unanimous agreement with the Mayor by signing on to the same statement made by the Mayor the day before.
“As Glendale City Council members, we support the strong position taken by our Mayor, Jerry Weiers, in defense and support of our Police Department.” said Vice-Mayor Ray Malnar, adding “Everyone benefits from a professional police force – every citizen, in every neighborhood.”
Councilman Ian Hugh echoed Malnar, saying that “We are committed to always seeking improvement in the quality of our policing, to continued community involvement, and to giving our officers our full support as they put their lives on the line for us. Like Mayor Weiers, we are “unalterably opposed to any effort to defund our police department.”
RELATED ARTICLE: Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers Draws Line In Sand Against Defund The Police Movement
The City Council’s position supports “good cops” while condemning “bad cops.”
The letter follows a Facebook post published by Weiers on Sunday, in which he blasted the “Defund the Police lunacy that is currently engulfing some cities around the country.”
Across Arizona, protests have taken place in response to the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Yet, in spite of defunding the police suddenly becoming a litmus test for Democratic politicians, a majority of Americans support full funding for public safety.
The following letter was signed by all members of the Glendale City Council:
City Council has dedicated the last eight years to working with our Police Department to ensure the safety of our citizens. While videos like those of George Floyd are shocking to see and cases like his have appropriately led to murder charges, the public needs to remember that NO ONE hates a bad cop more than a good cop.
We are blessed with an outstanding police force in Glendale, Arizona and we are unalterably opposed to any effort to defund our Police Department. Think back to just a few weeks ago with the shooting at Westgate and the speed and efficiency Glendale Police used to stop the gunman. Now imagine how long it would take for help to arrive in their absence?
Keeping our city safe is job #1 and that is why our police and fire enjoy some of the best compensation packages in the state. They also receive quality training and every officer, from the chief to the newest recruit, understands we are all partners in keeping Glendale as safe as possible from those who would do us harm.
Much as there is a world of difference between peaceful protestors and those intent on burning down buildings and looting local businesses, there is a world of difference between that rare bad cop and a department full of good cops.
We the undersigned continue to support a FULLY FUNDED Police department for as long as we are your community leaders.
[metaslider id=65385]