Blue for Trump: 2020 Man of the Year

Blue for Trump: 2020 Man of the Year
Trump endorsed by National Police Magazine

I was honored when asked by Blue Magazine to write an article about President Donald Trump and why he deserves the honor of being named Man of the Year. From the time I was a little kid, I always looked up to cops and I always knew that it was the right career choice for me. No doubt. I have a great respect for law enforcement officers whether they are city, county, state or federal officers. In my opinion, they are the finest 1% this nation has. My support for law enforcement is unwavering and we have a president who has supported law enforcement for his entire life.

On November 21st of 2019, I was honored as Man of the Year by Blue Magazine, Moment of Silence, and Brothers Before Others in a New Jersey ceremony called “Night to Unite.” Weeks before, when these organizations came together and announced that I’d receive the award, the first person to call and congratulate me was President Trump.

I’ve received many awards during my long career, but the most significant for me was being honored with the Man of the Year Award given by front-line cops at Night to Unite — a tremendous event, with nearly one thousand cops in the same room. The camaraderie was tremendous, but it’s always that way with police and firefighters. The men and women of the profession I admired as a child — and lived — took time from their busy lives to say thank you. It doesn’t get any better than that.

This year it is President Donald Trump being recognized as Man of the Year. In my humble opinion, he has been Man of the Year since his inauguration, because from day one of him sitting in the Oval Office, he has supported law enforcement and first responders like no other president in my lifetime. I have worked for six different presidents starting with Ronald Reagan and I respected every president I ever worked for. However, let me be clear, no president has done more for the men and women that carry that badge and gun than Trump. That is a stone-cold fact based on his words and actions. The person in the Oval Office greatly impacts the people on the front lines of law enforcement. The president sets the tone — either by what they say and do, or by what they don’t say and don’t do. No comparison, not even close.

The night of my award, much of my acceptance speech was about President Trump and his love and respect for the men and women who serve on the front line. Until you serve, you don’t realize what a thankless job it can be, and how much a thankful leader means.

That night, I heard numerous stories about Donald Trump, from his life before 2016. I learned that he supported law enforcement long before he became president. Bernie Kerik shared with me that Mr. Trump used to go down to ground zero in the dark of the night. He wasn’t looking for TV cameras or attention. He went down there among the debris and hazardous conditions to pay his respect for the lives lost, and to personally thank the men and women who were doing the incredible task of sorting through the carnage and respectfully recovering remains so family members could honor the deceased. Donald Trump also sent additional workers to provide assistance. A billionaire businessman went to that scene where so many perished, and so many got sick, simply to pay his respects — not once, but numerous times.

Another officer, Rob worked for the New York City transit police before they merged with the NYPD and was assigned to the midtown Manhattan area. He shared with me that he and other officers had numerous interactions with then-businessman Trump. He would always notice Rob and the other officers, stop what he was doing, and ask how they were doing. He’d tap them on the chest or back to make sure they were wearing their bullet-resistant vests, and remind them to “be safe.” Mr. Trump would also extend an invitation for them to use Trump Towers’ employee dining facilities for their lunch or dinner break.

I heard countless stories about Donald Trump that night — the man, not the celebrity or president. From showing up at police fundraisers in the late ‘80s and ‘90s to say thank you and hanging out with those in attendance, while quietly leaving five-figure donations, to everyday interactions with street cops.

Now, let’s fast forward to Donald Trump becoming the president of the United States. From day one he has had the six of law enforcement officers. He has had their backs. With the unprecedented attack on law enforcement this past two years, it was President Trump who never cowered. He strongly voiced his support for the men and women in law enforcement and his support never weakened, never diminished. In fact it grew stronger. It was the right thing to do for the men and women who leave the safety and security of their homes every day to risk their lives for people they don’t know and people they will never meet again. It helped that they knew they had the support of the most powerful person on the planet, the president of the United States. Again, no president has ever came out as boldly as Trump during the most trying and controversial times. He fought side by side with the American heroes and would not allow the false narrative of the left to vilify these American patriots who serve their communities and save lives every day.

As President Trump stated in September “America needs creation, not destruction; cooperation, not contempt; security, not anarchy; healing, not hatred; justice, not chaos. This is our mission, and we will succeed.” In that same month he signed a memorandum to hold local politicians accountable for refusing to protect their communities from rioting, looting and mass property destruction. The memorandum directs agencies to identify federal funds provided to Seattle, Portland, New York City, and Washington, D.C., and the authorities available to withhold funds. The Department of Justice, in consultation with other federal agencies, will consider a number of factors, including whether the city defunded the police or prevented local law enforcement from intervening to restore order.

Earlier this year, under the president’s direction, the Department of Justice launched Operation Legend to surge federal resources to cities and jurisdictions plagued by violence and crime. Upon the announcement the president said, “Today, I’m announcing a surge of federal law enforcement into American communities plagued by violent crime. We’ll work every single day to restore public safety, protect our nation’s children, and bring violent perpetrators to justice. We’ve been doing it, and you’ve been seeing what’s happening all around the country. We’ve just started this process, and, frankly, we have no choice but to get involved.”

Since the operation’s launch, there have been more than 2,000 arrests, including defendants who have been charged in state and local courts. Of those arrests, approximately 592 defendants have been charged with federal crimes. In addition, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has seized 587 firearms, more than 1.2 kilos of heroin and more than five kilos of methamphetamine; the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has seized almost 70 kilos of methamphetamine, more than 16 kilos of heroin, more than 7 kilos of fentanyl, more than 12 kilos of cocaine, 268 firearms and approximately $5.19 million in drug proceeds; the FBI has recovered 241 weapons; and the U.S. Marshals Service has recovered 169 firearms and made 1,810 arrests, including 163 for homicide and 120 for sexual assault.

Also remember in 2017, shortly after becoming president, he revitalized Project Safe Neighborhoods to bring together communities and law enforcement at all levels of government to reduce violent crime.

In 2019, in further support of our nation’s cops, President Trump established a new executive Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice – the first commission on law enforcement in half a century. The commission will study key issues facing law enforcement – like substance abuse, homelessness and mental illness. The commission will look at best practices for recruiting, training and supporting law enforcement officers. He also signed an Executive Order to help prevent violence against law enforcement officers at the federal, state, tribal and local level.

The president has also shown unprecedented support for our federal immigration agents and stepped up efforts to stop crime and drugs from flooding across our border. In his 2020 State of the Union address, Trump stated, “We will always support the brave men and women of law enforcement, and I pledge to you tonight that I will never abolish our heroes from ICE. Thank you.” He also recognized the efforts of ICE officers to keeping our communities safe.

This campaign season, Trump has reiterated his support for law enforce-ment and underscored the threats to law and order posed by a Biden presidency. Prior to leaving on Marine One for Minnesota on Sept. 30, he stated, “I want law and order to be a very important part — it’s a very important part of my campaign. And when I say that, what I’m talking about is law enforcement has to — the police have to take care. And they should stop defunding the police like they’ve done in New York.”

At a rally in Middletown, PA on Sept. 26, the president stated, “The Democrat Party’s war on cops is putting our police officers at risk. As President, I will always stand with the heroes of law enforcement. We will hire more police, increase penalties for assaults on law enforcement.”

At another rally in Newport News, VA on Sept. 25, he said, “With your vote, I will preserve our Constitution and ensure law and order. We will hire more police, increase penalties for assaults on law enforcement, and we will ban deadly sanctuary cities. Ban them.”

At the Black Economic Empowerment forum in Atlanta, GA on Sept. 25, he was quoted as saying, “Including over 50,000 incredible black police officers who risk their lives every day to keep us all safe. You know, they protect people that they've never met before, and it's very dangerous. It's -- they're amazing.”

At a rally in Jacksonville, FL on Sept. 24, Trump stated, "Every year, dozens of courageous police officers lay down their lives for people that they never met, people that they don't know, people they never saw, in most cases. Right? They lay down their lives for people they never have met. They’re incredible. Law enforcement; let's give them a hand, please. As President, I will always stand - and I will always stand with the men and women of law enforcement. They’re great people. They’re very brave people. Not easy. And they don't get support. We have to give them back their dignity. We have to let them do their job. That's very simple. They're great.”

In a press briefing on Sept. 16, he doubled down by stating that, “The anti-police crusade from the Democrats and the radical left - and radical-left Democrats also - has to stop. The leftwing war on cops puts our officers in danger and our communities at very grave risk. Can't do this. Biden described the police as the enemy. They're not the enemy; they're the friend. They're our friend. They’re helping us. And if you go to - I just saw a poll - it just came out or recently came out - where African Americans, by 84 percent, wanted more police. They wanted safe neighborhoods. I'll always stand by our heroes of law enforcement, and we want to stop this horrible rhetoric and stop it fast."

I can go on and on but we don’t have enough pages to fully explain that President Trump says it and he does it. He talks the talk and he walks the walk when it comes to having the back of our cops. He has said it. He has proven it.

The police have taken notice, and President Trump has been endorsed by a record number of police agencies.

Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) – nation’s largest police union, representing 355,000 officers. FOP President Patrick Yoes stated: “Public safety will undoubtedly be a main focus for voters in this year’s election… Look at what the national discourse has focused on for the last six months. President Trump has shown time after time that he supports our law enforcement officers and understands the issues our members face every day.”

National Association of Police Officers, which represents more than 241,000 officers nationwide, stating “Our endorsement recognizes your steadfast and very public support for our men and women on the front lines, especially during this time of unfair and inaccurate opprobrium being directed at our members by so many.”

International Union of Police Associations, which represents more than 100,000 officers, said: “Every top Democrat currently running for this office has vilified the police and made criminals out to be victims. They seem to take any union’s support for granted. Many of them still refer to the tragedy in Ferguson as a murder, despite the conclusions of every investigative inquiry to the contrary. While his candor ruffles the feathers of the left, I find it honest and refreshing. He stands with America’s Law Enforcement Officer and we will continue to stand with him.”

National Association of Police Organizations, citing his “steadfast and very public support” for law enforcement.

NYC Police Benevolent Association, representing more than 24,000 NYPD officers.

Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police, characterizing endorsement as a “no-brainer.”

ARTWORK BY JONNY CASTRO

Texas Municipal Police Association, stating “Joe Biden is not capable of making any kind of commitment to law and order.”

New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, stating "At a time when Democrats are calling to defund the very men and women who keep our communities safe, our campaign has chosen instead to stand beside them and make our support for men and women in blue very clear."

For those reading this article, there is no argument that President Trump has always stood, continues to stand and will always stand with our law enforcement heroes. He has consistently stood up for law enforcement and it’s time we come out in full force on Election Day to vote for the man who has our backs.

President Trump, let me be the first to say, you have truly earned this Man of the Year award! Blue Magazine appreciates and supports you. Congratulations to the finest president in my lifetime from the men and women of law enforcement.

Tom Homan grew up in West Carthage, New York. He is a career law enforcement officer. He was a police officer, then a Border Patrol Agent, then a Special Agent investigating criminal organizations that smuggle aliens or traffic in females and children. He was nominated by the President to be the ICE Director. He had a 34-year career enforcing immigration laws. He is now a Fox News contributor. He lives in Washington, DC.