Law Enforcement

Cities throughout the country have been forced to reckon with the consequences of flippant “defund the police” movements and other measures eroding law enforcement’s ability to protect our communities from harm. Police departments throughout the country are experiencing record levels of attrition and low morale with the increased scrutiny and criticism of law enforcement, pushing people away from pursuing careers in this critical profession. 

Among other consequences, these low attrition rates and lack of resources have prevented Utah's state and local law enforcement groups from adequately addressing the fentanyl crisis. While the Biden Administration has some tools at its disposal to relieve this epidemic—such as permanently classifying fentanyl as a Schedule I substance to give states and local governments more authority to combat the drug’s impact and classifying Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations—they have refused to take robust action. House Republicans recognized this vacuum in leadership and forced the Biden Administration’s hand by passing H.R. 3333, the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, into law in April 2024. This bill would declare international fentanyl trafficking a national emergency, direct the Treasury Department to target and block the financial assets of foreign drug trafficking organizations in China and Latin America, and sanction key members of drug cartels involved in international fentanyl trafficking.

I believe it is short-sighted to think our country cannot accomplish two goals at once. Law enforcement can be both empowered to perform their jobs with high levels of professionalism and respect for the rule of law while also re-establishing trust within the communities they serve. I will support policies that protect law enforcement’s ability to protect and serve while also demanding accountability when breaches of trust occur. No vocation is without its bad actors, and law enforcement is no different. However, condemning an entire profession of the honorable and brave men and women that serve our communities only further destabilizes cities and states already experiencing record high levels of crime.

Since being elected, I have held several law enforcement roundtables to hear directly from these professionals about the challenges they face such as narcotics trafficking. I am committed to working with advocacy groups, community leaders, and police officers on how I can support and empower their work from my position in Congress.