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Louisville Police Officers Walk Out on Mayor Fischer as Form of Protest
As a form of protest, police officers in Louisville, Ky. walked out on the city's Democratic mayor, Greg Fischer. According to the Fraternal Order of Police president, the officers felt “disrespected” as they struggle to manage violent protests.
In one video, Fischer stands in the middle of a room as officers and detectives walk out. FOP President Ryan Nichols said this was an unplanned reaction to the mayor’s appearance.
“They feel completely unsupported and disrespected by this administration,” Nichols said. “They feel whatever he was going to say would have been nothing more than lip service, and he does not care about them at all.”
Courier-Journal reported that frustrations have been growing in the police department. There, “tensions are high among officers who have been responding to demonstrations since May 28.”
According to reports, police have deployed pepper bullets and tear gas to disperse the demonstrations as a response to protesters throwing items like bricks and fireworks.
Maj. David Allen said that some rioters have even thrown jars with “gasoline in them, urine (and) a mixture with vomit in it” at officers.
Nichols also said that many of the officers do not feel that Fischer’s team has been supporting law enforcement.
“We're deep into multiple days of rioting and violence … and they're working in treacherous conditions,” Nichols said. “And this is the first opportunity that the leader of our city and this police department has given them to address them?” he then added.
Fischer Responds
Dozs of police officers in Louisville, KY rptdly walked out on city's Dem mayor, Greg Fischer, as form of protest, as Fraternal Order of Police pres explained officers felt “disrespected” as thy struggle to keep peace after more than wk of fiery protests-https://t.co/7PDY3luLld
— Blanche Victoria (@tammytabby) June 5, 2020
Fischer has responded in a statement, saying: “The men and women of LMPD are putting in long hours. They are suffering insults and assaults from people they are working to protect. They are worried for their families and this city.”
He also said: “They are frustrated, and some of them expressed that frustration today. I absolutely respect that. That doesn’t change my appreciation of the work they are doing, as I’ve expressed time and again. They have a very difficult job. I hope our residents will embrace our police officers as guardians –I know that’s how the vast, vast majority view their role,” the mayor added.
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