Former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Beth Harwell announced on Monday that the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) endorsed her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives.
James Smallwood, the president of the Nashville Fraternal Order of Police, said in a statement provided to The Tennessee Star, “As speaker, Beth Harwell always prioritized public safety in Tennessee and was attentive to the needs of law enforcement professionals as we worked to promote safer and stronger communities across the State. Now, more than ever, we need that same attention in Washington D.C. The members of the Nashville Fraternal Order of Police are proud to support Beth Harwell for Congress because we know she’s the right person for the job!”
“The Fraternal Order of Police is the world’s largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than 364,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges,” added the statement.
Harwell said she was “honored” to receive the FOP’s endorsement.
“These brave men and women are on the front lines keeping our families safe from drugs, crime, and other threats to public safety. In Congress, I will back the blue 100% percent just as I did in the State House. We must fully fund our law enforcement officers and make sure they have the resources they need to protect us,” she said.
The Star reported that Harwell announced her “Back the Blue” plan in July.
Harwell’s six-point plan calls for funding law enforcement officers and making sure they have the resources and training they need to fight crime.
“American cities have seen a massive increase in violent crime and murders these last few years. At the same time, Democrat politicians around the country have called for ‘defunding the police’ which has only led to emboldened criminals who don’t respect law and order,” Harwell said in a July statement.
“The Biden Administration’s failure to secure the southern border and a disregard for cracking down on crime has led to a rise in drugs and human trafficking in our communities. Fentanyl is the most dangerous type of opioid and we’ve seen record numbers of the drug in our community. In middle Tennessee, sex trafficking has become a rising issue,” Harwell continued. “Our law enforcement officers are doing everything they can, but the legal system is failing us by letting criminals off the hook.”
The Republican primary in the race for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat will take place Thursday.
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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]. Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, Truth Social, and Parler.
Photo “Beth Harwell Speaking to the Fraternal Order of Police” by Beth Harwell.
