CT town declines to raise thin blue line flag, lowers Pride flag to half-mast to honor trooper killed in line of duty



A town in Connecticut has come under fire after its council voted against raising the thin blue line flag to honor a state trooper killed in the line of duty.

On the afternoon of May 30, Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier, 34, conducted a routine traffic stop along eastbound I-84 in Southington, about 20 miles southwest of Hartford. While he was standing on the shoulder and addressing the driver whom he had just pulled over, a pickup truck suddenly swerved onto the shoulder, swiped Pelletier's police cruiser, and then struck Pelletier before speeding away.

'Our flag policy prohibits us from doing anything associated with hate.'

Pelletier was pronounced dead at the scene. He was a nine-year veteran of the force, a husband, and the father of two children. His K-9 partner, Roso, was in the police vehicle at the time of the crash but was not injured.

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Pelletier's funeral was scheduled for this past Wednesday, and Rich Bailey — a Republican member of the Wethersfield, Connecticut, town council and the son of a retired police officer — wanted his community to honor the fallen trooper. So on Monday, two days before Pelletier's funeral, Bailey proposed that the town hoist the American Blue Line flag at half-staff on Wednesday in Pelletier's memory.

"In my home, [the flag] means police, and they protect us, and they are our first line of defense," Bailey said. "They always are, and they’re always here, and they’re always for us."

His colleagues on the council disagreed, voting 5-3 against raising the police flag.

Democrat Councilman Miki Duric claimed he voted against the measure not because he has any animus against police but because municipal law requires 30 days' notice to raise a flag.

"This policy is being tested at the moment. It’s not a perfect policy," Duric said. "I think this is something we should look into. In case of emergency or things like this, we can have different approach. But that’s not what policy says at the moment."

Other Democrats on the council admitted that they view the thin blue line flag as a divisive symbol. Emily Zambrello even claimed that it represents "hate."

"It represents racism and antagonism to many, many people, and if you don’t personally believe that, and you fly at your own house and you think it means something to you, that is much more positive," she claimed. "It’s just not how many people feel about it, it’s not appropriate to raise it over our town hall, especially when our flag policy prohibits us from doing anything associated with hate."

Even Democrat Mayor Ken Lesser suggested that the police flag has been co-opted by evil-minded people. "It has now been used by white supremacist groups and other far-right types of groups," he claimed. "Even many police departments around the country and in the state of Connecticut say we don’t authorize or use that flag."

As a compromise, someone suggested flying a flag to honor all first responders, but Bailey rejected that idea, Mayor Lesser claimed.

"All we are doing is trying to respect a fallen police officer," Bailey insisted.

A prearranged Pride ceremony went on as scheduled this week but was limited in scope because of Pelletier's death. The American, POW, and Pride flags were all lowered to half-mast in his honor, according to video of the ceremony.

A suspect in the crash that killed Pelletier has been arrested. Alex Oyola-Sanchez, 44, has been assessed several serious charges, including second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, evading responsibility resulting in death, driving under the influence, and failing to drive in the proper lane. He remains in custody on a $5 million bond.

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Dem lawmaker pushes FDNY to remove 'politically charged' thin red line American flag honoring 9/11 responders



The New York City Fire Department's Ladder Company 11 was recently ordered to remove its thin red line American flag honoring responders killed in the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center, the New York Post reported.

The department issued the order on March 22 after Democratic Manhattan Councilwoman Carlina Rivera's office confronted Ladder Company 11 about the so-called politically charged symbol.

In an email dated March 19, Rivera's office asked the FDNY whether the firehouse displayed a flag with "political symbols."

"I'm reaching out on behalf of a constituent of ours regarding a thin blue/red line flag on Ladder 11 last week (and earlier on Jan 20th)," Rivera's office wrote to the department. "When asked about the meaning, they claimed it was to honor deceased firefighters, however he brought up that they could've used an FDNY flag rather than a politically charged symbol."

"It is both his and our understandings that private political symbols aren't permitted to be displayed on public vehicles," her office continued. "Can you confirm if there are any violating flags/symbols on Ladder 11?"

The flag was displayed on the firehouse's fire truck, next to a memorial placard honoring six men — Lt. Michael Quilty and firefighters Michael Cammarata, Edward Day, John Hefferman, Richard Kelly Jr., and Matthew Rogan — who were killed on 9/11.

Sources told the Post that a man claiming to be one of Rivera's staffers arrived at the firehouse a few days after the email demanding to know why the flag was still flying, calling it a "fascist symbol," the sources claimed.

The confrontation with the alleged staffer prompted FDNY Deputy Chief Joseph Schiralli to visit the firehouse and request responders remove it from the fire truck, noting that it violated the department's ban on "altered" versions of the American flag. Sources told the Post that the prohibition was enacted in 2020 by then-Commissioner Daniel Nigro and then-First Deputy Commissioner Laura Kavanagh amid Black Lives Matter's anti-police movement.

The Post reported that Schiralli was reluctant to order the flag's removal, calling the requirement "ridiculous."

A Ladder Co. 11 firefighter told the news outlet, "This flag has huge significance for us."

"I wish [Rivera's office] would have come at it like 'Hey, we want to learn about the flag and what it represents' before they asked for it to be taken down,'" another firefighter stated.

Rivera told the Post that the initial complaint was from a constituent and not one of her staffers.

"We have heard nothing further from the FDNY and have taken no additional action on this matter," Rivera stated, referring to the email sent by her office. "My relationship with Ladder 11 has always been strong."

Hours after the removal was ordered, now-Commissioner Kavanagh and Chief of Department John Hodgens reversed the decision, allowing the flag to be displayed once again.

A Ladder 11 firefighter told the Post, "We're happy with the outcome of this — but we're offended it happened in the first place."

New York City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R) responded to the news on X, writing, "I want to extend a deep personal thank you to @FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens for taking a bold stand and ordering the thin red line flag to be put back up at Ladder 11 last week."

"We are living in a time of increasing political pressure to adhere to certain ideologies - ideologies that seek to censor and shame anyone or anything that might dare to disagree with their positions. Chief Hodgens showed great personal courage by defying the will of certain loud radicals in government, and restoring that flag even when political forces were being arrayed against him," Ariola continued. "Thank you, Chief Hodgens, for doing what was right. May that honor and bravery become contagious, and spread throughout our city. We certainly need it."

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Police arrest thugs suspected of slashing and pummeling uniformed NYPD officer on NYC subway



Two thugs are in custody following a vicious attack on a New York City police officer Saturday night in the Bronx.

Marquise Webb of Yonkers and Haitian-native Brian Innocent, both 24, are being held at Riker's Island on $40,000 cash bail or $120,000 bond for allegedly slashing and pummeling 16-year NYPD veteran Lt. Gypsy Pichardo on a subway car. They have been charged with assault, resisting arrest, harassment, and obstructing governmental administration, reported WABC-TV.

Lt. Pichardo was called to Kingsbridge subway station around 9:45 p.m. on Saturday in response to a report from an MTA conductor about two groups of knife-wielding men fighting on a Bronx-bound train.

The New York Daily News indicated that one of the groups got off the train at 231st Street station, but the other group remained on until 238th Street Station, where they ran into Lt. Pichardo.

Upon his arrival, the NYPD lieutenant confronted Webb and Innocent, ordering them to disembark the halted train. Bronx prosecutors indicated both suspects refused to cooperate.

The criminal complaint claims the duo got back on the train, where they "refused several commands to place their hands behind their backs," reported the New York Post.

Footage of the incident provides a partial glimpse of a pair of thugs teaming up and cornering Lt. Pichardo, delivering kicks and haymakers. The video also reveals the attackers had a fan club as at least two men looked on without intervening on the officer's behalf.

After the bloody attack, officers can be seen chasing the suspects along the platform with Tasers at the ready. The attackers reportedly attempted to escape onto the train tracks but were captured by authorities after a brief chase.

— (@)

Lt. Pichardo was taken to St. Barnabas in stable condition. He suffered significant bruising to one eye, which had swollen shut, and cuts on his face requiring eight stitches.

The NYPD indicated that a knife, a box cutter, and a straight razor were recovered by police following the arrests.

Webb and Innocent pleaded not guilty to all charges in Bronx Criminal Court Sunday night. According to WABC, detectives continue to look for the other members of the apparent gang who fled the scene.

This is not the first time in recent weeks criminal elements have tried to bleed police officers in the Bronx. A 40-year-old suspect reportedly charged two NYPD officers at Pelham Parkway station on Oct. 11, stabbing one officer in the arm and slashing the other.

Days earlier, NYPD Chief of Crime Control Strategies Michael LiPetri suggested that the increase in felony assaults this year has been driven in part by an increase in assaults on police officers.

Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, said in a statement, "There is a simple reason that assaults on cops are going up. It's because anti-police activists — many of them on the public payroll — have normalized violent resistance against police officers. Charges against criminals who assault cops are frequently downgraded or thrown out, while hard-working cops are having their careers destroyed for using appropriate force to defend themselves or safely make an arrest. Police officers are literally getting beaten up in this environment. It's another reason that cops are still quitting in droves."

It's not just unsafe for armed police officers to travel around New York City. The NYPD indicated that felony assault increased 6.9% last month as compared to October 2022. Crime in the transit system also jumped 5.7%, and the total number of alleged bias incidents investigated by the NYPD Hate Crime Task Forces increased by 124% in October.

According to Neighborhood Scout, the chances of becoming the victim of a violent crime in the Bronx is 1 in 128.

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Video shows deputy narrowly dodge death by dropping under suspect's crashing car: 'Talk about nine lives'



A Dorchester County sheriff's officer had a close shave last month when a crashing car, the driver of which was allegedly set on his demise, rolled right over him.

Sgt. Lawrence Hill was looking to stop a suspect who had been speeding perilously through Summerville, South Carolina, on Sept. 19, reported the Post and Courier.

The suspect in question, 54-year-old Roger Quentin Hill — who is not related to the sergeant — led deputies on a chase through the county, allegedly hitting speeds of up to 100 mph, according to an incident report.

Robert Quentin Hill - Dorchester County Jail

An officer initially tried to stop the suspect west of Summerville after noticing an expired registration sticker, but Quentin Hill allegedly refused to stop.

WCSC-TV reported that the suspect unsuccessfully attempted to hit the officer, then began weaving through traffic and forcing other cars off the road. Fifteen minutes later, after reportedly realizing he couldn't escape the neighborhood, Quentin Hill encountered Sgt. Hill off Scotch Orange Road.

In footage captured by another deputy's dashboard camera, Sgt. Hill's cruiser can be seen parked off to the side of the road. In the ditch on the opposite side, Hill waits with a spike strip ready. As the suspect's Jaguar sedan's closes in, Sgt. Hill throws the spikes. However, the driver veers off the road toward the deputy.

Sgt. Hill vanishes under the sedan as it catches a piece of a utility pole at the last moment, toppling it and yanking down live wires. The sedan then rolls right over the deputy, throwing shrapnel and dust into the air.

As the deputy whose cruiser captured the footage rushes to the scene of the smoking wreck, Sgt. Hill can be seen standing and walking away from the wake of destruction.

One officer rushes the suspect's vehicle with his gun drawn, ordering Quentin Hill to put his hands up.

The Post and Courier indicated that Sgt. Hill was taken to hospital with bruises and an injured shoulder.

"He's lucky to be alive," said Lt. Rick Carson. "Talk about nine lives."

Quentin Hill was charged with attempted murder, failure to stop for blue lights, destruction of an electric pole, and driving with a suspended license. He was denied bond on account of the attempted murder charge.

Deputy dives under crashing caryoutu.be

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DeSantis launching billboards in Chicago offering 'unappreciated' cops a $5,000 signing bonus for relocating to Florida to help keep the peace



Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is launching a billboard campaign in Chicago, offering "unappreciated" police officers a $5,000 signing bonus to come to Florida to do what leftists in Illinois appear keen to otherwise prevent them from doing properly at home.

Chicago is a city terrorized by criminals. There have been 1,495 criminal sexual assaults, 7,039 robberies, 20,651 motor vehicle thefts, and 435 murders reported in the city so far this year. Two of those slain in the city were police officers, Aréanah M. Preston and Andres M. Vasquez Lasso.

The very people capable of restoring law and order in the no-cash-bail state have seemingly been discouraged from doing so at every turn.

Chicago was, after all, one of the Democrat-run cities that embraced anti-police rhetoric and reduced police funding amidst the 2020 BLM riots.

Its new leftist mayor, Brandon Johnson, a former teachers' union organizer and advocate for "redirecting money away from policing and militarizing police forces," does not appear to be making things better, having called for social workers and EMTs to respond to various 911 calls.

The chilling effect has been unmistakable.

In the face of dwindling support from the city, increased scrutiny, and the fear of reprisals, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that arrests dropped to their lowest in decades last year.

With the understanding both that Florida could always use more men and women in blue and that Democratic policies in Illinois allow "dangerous criminals back into communities," DeSantis announced Thursday that Florida would be launching billboards in the greater Chicago area inviting law enforcement officers to the Sunshine State.

Those "unappreciated" officers who are interested and who relocate will receive a $5,000 signing bonus through the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program.

According to the Florida Department of Commerce website, over 292 law enforcement officers have already taken the Sunshine State up on the offer to relocate from Illinois, California, New York, and Pennsylvania since 2022.

"Florida strongly supports law enforcement and has consistently enacted commonsense criminal justice policies to keep our communities safe," said DeSantis. "We stand behind our citizen officers, and we give them the tools to succeed professionally and personally. Other states deputize non-citizens, enact policies that favor criminals over victims, and work to overtly or covertly defund the police, but not in Florida. I look forward to welcoming the Illinois men and women in blue to the law-and-order state."

In the announcement, the governor's office contrasted Illinois' apparent priority to allow illegal aliens to become police officers and eliminate cash bail with the benefits on offer to law enforcement officers in Florida, including student loan forgiveness programs, home loan programs, and retirement benefits.

WQRF-TV reported that the billboards erected in the Chicago area read, "Citizenship Matters. Law Enforcement Matters. Make the Smart Move to Florida."

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Long Island police commissioner defends officer's use of SUV to neutralize gun-toting woman who threatened to shoot herself and others



Police put the pedal to the metal and a threatening woman to the ground Tuesday after the armed 33-year-old took aim at herself and others in a crowded intersection in Nassau County, New York.

While critics claim the use of an SUV to neutralize the apparent public menace was improper, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder has praised his officers for a job well done.

Footage of the incident taken by the owner of a nearby BP gas station, Hamza Amir, shows a woman at the intersection of North Jerusalem and Bellmore Avenues just after 2:00 p.m. stride into the street with a semi-automatic pistol at the ready.

As she makes her way deeper into the intersection, the woman, whom authorities have yet to name, can be seen walking backward and taking aim at onlookers.

Amir told Newsday that the woman "had a gun in her hand, she was pointing at people. ... [S]he pointed the gun at me."

The woman can be seen in the video alternating between possible targets, then finally pressing the gun to her own head, threatening one more life. Meanwhile, police, alerted to the scene after receiving reports of a woman firing a shot into the air, make their approach off-screen.

With the nearby Nassau Children's Readiness Center on lockdown and bystanders a good distance away, a Nassau County Police cruiser screeches into frame, prompting the woman to maneuver to the side. Her dodge is no good, however; the SUV grazes her, sending her spinning and leaving her stunned.

Officers on foot can be seen rushing the suspect, who drops her weapon and surrenders while additional support units move in.

Authorities indicated the woman was taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries.

— (@)

Michael Alcazar, a retired NYPD detective and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, was critical of this possibly livesaving tactic, claiming that officers are "not allowed to hit people with the car, even if they’re shooting at you," reported Newsday.

Alcazar suggested that NYPD policy would alternatively have had the officers "isolate and contain" the woman until K-9 units, negotiators, or other special units could show up, even if the officers were being fired upon.

Former NYPD detective Felipe Rodriguez suggested the officer had put himself at risk using the police cruiser, telling CBS News, "The windshields in vehicles are not bulletproof, and as he ended up coming closer to her, you actually became a bigger target. So he was very lucky she didn't decide to aim at the vehicle and discharge the firearm."

NCP Commissioner Patrick Ryder wasn't similarly critical of the 300 horsepower remedy, indicating his officers "thought quickly to react and probably save people's lives, including their own," adding, "I am never going to Monday-morning quarterback my cops."

"It's a loaded handgun that she's waving around in the traffic, pointing at people that have got their children and their families in their cars. That cop made a split-second decision to put her down on the ground. He did a great job. He’s our hero of the day," said Ryder, who indicated the alternative would have been simply shooting her.

"Deadly physical force spurs deadly physical force. That’s the law," continued the commissioner. "If somebody has threatened deadly physical force against you or another, you have the right to use deadly physical force, and they chose it through their vehicle and they stopped the individual."

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Honoring the cops and K-9s who gave their lives to preserve our safety



If you’ve never heard of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., Mark Levin thinks it's about time you did.

The Memorial was established in 1984 and is a non-profit and non-partisan organization that honors thousands of U.S. law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

Unfortunately, that number keeps growing.

The memorial is a living memorial, which means names are added each year — and this year, it had to expand the wall to accommodate the growing number of law enforcement officers who have lost their lives.

Not only does the memorial honor fallen officers but fallen K-9s who served officers. 25 K-9s were killed on duty in 2022.

One of those K-9s, Axel, was chasing an armed suspect with his partner Josh Clendenin. The suspect shot Axel, who later died at the hospital.

Levin plays a news clip that features three men from eastern Kentucky who were recently honored in our nation's capital.

Captain Ralph Frazier, Deputy William Petrie, and Jacob Chaffin were all killed in the line of duty last June when they were ambushed in the community they were trying to protect.

“Other lawlessness in our streets, now, it looks like a war zone. And these men gave their lives. Systemic heroes, that’s what they are,” Levin comments.

“It’s real wild, wild west out there. And the answer is not to disarm the good guys; the answer is to get the bad guys,” he adds.


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Los Angeles Police Department bans Thin Blue Line flag because it now allegedly symbolizes 'undemocratic, racist, and bigoted views'



The Los Angeles Police Department banned the Thin Blue Line flag because it now allegedly symbolizes "undemocratic, racist, and bigoted views" held by extremist groups.

The Thin Blue Line symbol is a pro-police emblem that is said to represent the thin line between order and lawlessness in society that is maintained by law enforcement who wear blue uniforms.

LAPD Chief Michel Moore sent an email to department personnel on Friday announcing that the department was banning the Thin Blue Line symbol. The LAPD has barred the Thin Blue Line symbol from being displayed in public areas of police property.

Moore defended the ban by saying the Thin Blue Line has been "hijacked" by "extremist" groups. He claimed that he received a community complaint this week about the presence of the Thin Blue Line flag in the lobby of the police station. The complaint alleged that the Thin Blue Line flag "symbolized support for violent extremist views, such as those represented by the Proud Boys and others."

Moore told Fox News, "It's unfortunate that extremist groups have hijacked the use of the ‘Thin Blue Line flag’ to symbolize their undemocratic, racist, and bigoted views."

Moore said he viewed the Thin Blue Line flag as symbolizing "the honor, valor, dedication, and sacrifice of law enforcement to protect our communities." However, the police chief said some people had undermined the flag with their "racist, bigoted and oppressive values."

He declared, "I directed to have the item taken down from the public lobby. The U.S. flag should be proudly displayed in our lobbies whenever possible. Memorials for our fallen are also authorized in all public spaces."

Moore said the police station should be "free of political ideology."

Moore said LAPD officers can display the Thin Blue Line flag in "their workspace, locker door, or personal vehicle."

The board of directors for the Los Angeles Police Protective League, a union representing nearly 10,000 police officers, "vehemently" opposed the ban and accused Moore of "political pandering."

"It is difficult to express the level of utter disgust and disappointment with Chief Moore’s politically pandering directive to remove Thin Blue Line flags and memorials for fallen officers from all public areas within our police stations," said the Los Angeles Police Protective League. "This direction came as a result of complaints from anti-police, criminal apologists, and activists who hold too much sway over our city leaders and, unfortunately, our Chief."

The union lampooned the ban as "disrespectful and defeatist kowtowing by our department leadership to groups that praise the killing of police officers and outright call for violence against those of us in uniform. We have directly expressed our outrage to the Chief."

The union asserted that the flag was actually a "symbol of unity."

"Let's all remember what the Thin Blue Line flag is and what it represents: The Thin Blue Line flag features a black and white image of the American flag with the horizontal stripe beneath the field of white stars on the black background," the statement read. "The stars represent the citizenry who stand for justice and order. The darkness represents chaos and anarchy, and to many, a memorial to the law enforcement officers who have perished in the line of duty."

A similar ban was enacted in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. This week, the Springfield township board voted to ban the Thin Blue Line from township property.

Commissioner Ed Graham claimed, "When you wave this flag, it is just like for African Americans the waving of a Confederate flag."

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'Enough is enough!': Fraternal Order of Police president calls out 'pro-criminal' prosecutors and politicians for 'one of the most dangerous years for law enforcement'



After yet another brutal year in which hundreds of police officers were shot in the line of duty, Patrick Yoes, national president of the Fraternal Order of Police, declared, "Enough is enough!"

Yoes has made clear that the criminals responsible had help from elected officials who are apparently not only anti-cop but "pro-criminal."

What are the details?

The National Fraternal Order of Police issued a report on Dec. 21, indicating that 323 law enforcement officers were shot in the line of duty so far this year.

Sixty officers were killed by gunfire overall, putting 2022 on course to match last year's count, which saw 63 law enforcement officers cut down. That death toll represents a 28% increase over the same year-to-date period in 2020.

The report also noted that 124 officers had been shot in 87 separate ambush-style attacks. Of the 124 officers so wounded, 31 were killed.

These death statistics do not include the hundreds of law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty as the result of other incidents, such as vehicular assaults.

\u201c\ud83d\udea8ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS YEARS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT: The American Police Officer is Facing a Heightened Level of Danger\n\n\u26a0\ufe0f 323 Officers Shot This Year\n\n\u26a0\ufe0f 60 Officers Killed by Gunfire\n\n\u26a0\ufe0f 124 Officers We\u2019re Shot in 87 Ambush-Style Attacks\n\nWe still have 10 days left in 2022\u2026\u201d
— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)) 1671619491

In a statement accompanying the FOP's latest report on law enforcement casualties, FOP president Patrick Yoes underscored how it is important to recognize that these numbers "represent heroes — fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters."

"As crime rates continue to rise, more citizens in this country are justifiably living in fear, constantly wondering if they too will become a victim," said Yoes.

The Major Cities Chiefs Association reported in September, on the basis of a survey of 70 major police agencies, that overall violent crime across the U.S. spiked earlier this year.

Yoes, who served as an active law enforcement officer for nearly 36 years, said this fear and bloodletting is "what happens when elected officials embrace pro-criminal, revolving-door policies and make decisions that put the interests of violent offenders ahead of public safety."

"These decisions — failures to prosecute violent offenders for their crimes or, even worse, releasing repeat offenders arrested for crimes who show a propensity for escalation of violence — make our communities less safe. These rogue prosecutors are putting innocent lives at risk. When there are no consequences for breaking the law, more people will break the law and crime will increase," he wrote.

Philadelphia's recently impeached Larry Krasner is one among many so-called progressive district attorneys accused by Republican legislators of contributing to "a catastrophic rise in violent crime at the expense of public safety."

Krasner and others have been enabled in part by leftist billionaire George Soros' Open Society Foundations network.

Fox News Digital reported that Soros' network funneled at least $35 million into anti-police groups and initiatives last year, extra to spending even more backing leftist prosecutors.

Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust, said, "Not only has billionaire George Soros spent millions propping up pro-crime prosecutors, but now we've learned he's spent the last year bankrolling efforts to defund the police as well."

While leftist elites fill the coffers of anti-police groups, criminals having been filling coffins with police officers.

"Truthfully, the violence against those sworn to serve and protect is beyond unacceptable; it’s a stain on our society, and it must end," said Yoes. "It is incumbent upon our elected officials and community leaders to stand up, support our heroes, and speak out against the violence against law enforcement officers."

He expressed hope that the Republican-controlled Congress will pass the "Protect and Serve" Act, which would impose federal penalties on criminals who deliberately target local, state, or federal law enforcement officers with violence.

Two Connecticut police officers killed, one wounded in suspected ambush shooting



Two police officers were shot and killed and a third was injured Wednesday in what is reported to be an ambush attack.

The officers were shot while responding to a domestic violence call at a residence in Bristol, Connecticut, state police said.

Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould identified the slain officers as Sgt. Dustin DeMonte, 35, and Officer Alex Hamzy, 34. The third officer, Alex Iurato, 26, was taken to the hospital for surgery and is recovering, WTNH-TV reported.

Police said the officers responded to a domestic violence call involving two siblings Wednesday night. When they arrived, they were met by a man outside the home.

“Shots were fired, fatally wounding one officer on scene,” state police Sgt. Christine Jelteman said at a news conference Thursday.

The two other officers were hit by gunfire, Jelteman said. One died at the hospital and the other was seriously wounded and treated for his injuries.

The suspected gunman, Nicholas Brutcher, was also fatally shot, and his brother was shot and wounded, Jelteman said. Police believe the 911 call was meant to lure officers to the scene for an ambush.

ABC News reported that the gunman used an AR-15-style rifle.

"Our community has been rocked," Gould told reporters.

DeMonte "was assigned to our patrol division and was a school resource officer," the police chief said. "He was also an adviser for the Bristol police explorer cadet program. Throughout his career he has received several awards, including the Silver Star, officer of the month and co-recipient for Officer of the Year in 2019."

He is survived by his wife and two children, with a third on the way, Gould said.

Hamzy, who grew up in Bristol, is survived by his wife, the chief said.

Iurato was released from a Hartford hospital Thursday morning and was greeted by fellow police officers and applause.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) ordered flags in the state to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the officers.

"I am directing flags in Connecticut lowered to half-staff effective immediately in honor of two Bristol Police officers who were killed in the line of duty late last night while responding to an emergency call of domestic violence at a private residence in town," Lamont said in a statement.

"This is a senseless tragedy, and my prayers are with their families, loved ones, and fellow officers. I also ask the residents of CT to keep in their prayers a third officer who was shot and is currently in the hospital with serious injures," the governor added.

"This is a devastating reminder of the dangers that police officers face every day to protect our families and neighbors from all kinds of situations. These officers are heroes and will always be remembered for the honorable service they provided to their town and state. This continues to be an active situation, and I’ve directed DESPP Commissioner James Rovella and the CT State Police to support Bristol police and the greater community in every way they can."

More from WTNH: