President Joe Biden is proceeding with his scheduled trip to Syracuse, New York, on Thursday, despite concerns from law enforcement officers who are grieving the loss of two colleagues in the line of duty.
Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen and Onondaga County Lt. Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Hoosock were killed in a shootout on April 14. Local law enforcement officials had expressed希望 that the president’s visit would be delayed to give them time to grieve and recover.
Jeff Moran, president of the Syracuse Police Benevolent Association, told the Daily Caller that the department had expressed its concerns to the Biden administration. “The Biden administration elected to move forward with the visit,” Moran said.
Republican New York Rep. Brandon Williams wrote a letter to the president on Monday asking him to postpone the trip. “In light of these tragic events, we are hearing from local law enforcement officers that personnel are still recovering from this tragedy and grieving their fallen brothers,” Williams wrote.
Several New York congresswomen echoed Williams’ sentiments in tweets on Monday. Republican New York Rep. Elise Stefanik said she stands with local police officers in asking Biden to postpone his visit. Republican New York Rep. Claudia Tenney said the Syracuse Police and the Onondaga Sheriff’s office should not be burdened by the president’s visit.
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh’s office said it did not request a delay from the White House. However, the mayor did ask Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to provide the state’s police force to assist with the visit.
Moran expressed concern about the amount of police presence the president’s trip will require. “I just, I can’t emphasize enough, I mean, we’re crushed. We’re heartbroken. The result of the loss of Officer retention. And now we’re being told that we have to fill President Biden’s detail,” Moran said.
