Police and Politics.-Is it intimidating when an armed, uniformed Police Officer asks. “I support TRUMP. You?”
-Is it ok for a uniformed Police Officer to appear in political ads for a candidate for mayor or a State or Federal politician?
Apparently, in Jacksonville several armed, uniformed officers, standing in front of a marked police car, are running ads supporting the mayor. their boss!
Their remarks praise the mayor and, of course, ridicule his opponent.
It’s true that Federal Law (Hatch Act) prohibits Federal Government employees from similar political shenanigans.
Of course the mayor’s lawyer says “There’s nothing on the books prohibiting off-duty, uniformed officers from participating in political ads”.
But the National Fraternal Order of Police claims that officers are allowed to endorse or oppose a partisan political candidate in an ad or broadcast, “so long as the officer is not on duty and not wearing a uniform, badge or insignia.”
(NOTE – In fact the Hatch Act states that Federal employees may not seek public office in partisan elections, use their official title or authority when engaging in political activity, solicit or receive contributions for partisan political candidates or groups, and engage in political activity while on duty.”
Also Employees:-
*May not use official authority to interfere with an election or while engaged in political activity.”
*May not invite subordinate employees (Deputies?) to political events or otherwise suggest that they engage in political activity.”
*May not engage in political activity while on duty, in the workplace, wearing a uniform or official
insignia, or in a government vehicle. “
*May not wear, display, or distribute partisan materials or items.
*May not perform campaign-related chores.
*May not make political contributions.
*May not use email or social media to engage in political activity.
In Florida the question is being asked, “Can a candidate/incumbent use photographs of police officers, deputy sheriffs,
firefighters, or other uniformed employees dressed in their agency uniforms.”
-State law, specifically RCW 42.17A.555, prohibits “The use of public facilities for the support or opposition of candidates or ballot propositions.”
-So, does this prohibition include the use of official uniforms?
-The state Public Disclosure Commission, which enforces state political campaign regulations, recently issued revised election campaign guidelines that, among other things, specifically addresses the use of uniforms in political campaigns.
Excerpt:-“Employees may use uniforms they own to assist a campaign. The fact that the uniform is no longer used should be documented.”
“Photos and videos showing uniformed employees may be used in a campaign if they were made in the ordinary course of business, were not staged for campaign purposes.
-It is suggested that any advertisement using a photo or video that includes a uniformed employee make it clear through a disclaimer that the public agency is not supporting or endorsing a candidate or ballot measure.
-Uniforms that are not property of the agency, that have been rented or purchased with non-public funds, may be used in a campaign.”
That seems clear enough to me!
Candidates cannot stage films/videos of uniformed officers delivering a scripted endorsement.
But, this is 2022.
Anything goes.
On Election Day, they can have armed, uniformed law enforcement officers, poll-watchers and look-alike patrol cars, all telling you who to vote for.
Is that kinda like Russia and China?
As one of them told me, “We do what we have to do to win, No-one cares how we get it done.”
‘til next time.. . . .
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I’m very much Pro-Law-Enforcement, but, if law enforcement officers are being “persuaded” to publicly endorse candidates
they didn’t choose or support, that might be a problem . . . . Officers and Deputies need to know that we support their “Freedom-Of-Choice too.
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Publishers Note: This is the opinion of one writer and not necessarily the opinion of this newspaper!
