Blue View by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)

Representatives Garret N. Graves (R-LA) and Abigail D. Spanberger (D-VA) are united in an effort to use a House procedure known as a discharge petition to force a vote on H.R. 82, the “Social Security Fairness Act.” A discharge petition is a legislative mechanism to move legislation directly to the floor provided the petition—an actual document–is physically signed by 218 Members of the House. Members can begin signing this petition on 10 September—one day after the House returns to session.

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Equality and fairness are some of America’s most cherished ideals. In current Social Security law, over 2.5 million retired first responders, teachers, and other government employees are financially penalized by provisions of the law, the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, that slash their benefits solely because they spent part of their careers in jobs that don’t pay into Social Security.

On this episode of the Blue View Podcast, National FOP President Patrick Yoes sits down with Representative ‪@RepSpanberger, who currently represents Virginia’s 7th Congressional district.

A former law enforcement officer herself, Representative Spanberger is the lead Democratic sponsor of H.R. 82, the “Social Security Fairness Act.” The Social Security Fairness Act, which is one of the most bipartisan and broadly supported pieces of legislation in the House, would fully repeal both the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) in current Social Security law. The bill, which currently has over 320 cosponsors, is a top priority of the FOP. The House sponsors of the Social Security Fairness Act, Representative Spanberger as well as the lead Republican on the bill, Garret N. Graves (R-LA), are united in an effort to use a House procedure known as a discharge petition to force a vote on H.R. 82. A discharge petition is a legislative mechanism to move legislation directly to the floor provided the petition—an actual document—is physically signed by 218 Members of the House. Members can begin signing this petition on 10 September—one day after the House returns to session.

The Federal Communications Commission is an independent Federal agency overseen by Congress that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, TV, wire, satellite, and cable throughout the United States. The five-member commission is responsible for implementing and enforcing communications law and regulation.

Communications are vital to law enforcement—without reliable and interoperable communications systems, officer safety and the safety of the public is compromised. The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) within the FCC promotes the public’s access to reliable 911 and first responder communications. In fact, one the most important issues impacting the future of public safety communications is the need to authorize 4.9 GHz spectrum for use within the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN).

On this episode of the Blue View Podcast, National President Patrick Yoes sits down with FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who began his career at the FCC as general counsel and as an aide to a former commissioner. In 2017 then-President Trump appointed him to be a Commissioner, as did President Biden. He’s been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times.

A champion for 5G technology, Commissioner Carr can be credited with leading modernization efforts for the FCC’s infrastructure, bolstering those in tower crew jobs, and expanding access to high-speed networks—with a particular interest in telehealth. He has been a reliable partner to law enforcement in general and the FOP in particular. We’re grateful to have him join us today to talk about the FCC’s work, the needs of law enforcement, and the future of public safety communications.

In recent years, tensions between law enforcement and certain segments of the community have escalated. There have been calls to defund the police and efforts to reimagine police interactions with the public. One local high school student experienced this tension up close. That inspired him to take action and speak out.

Two years ago, Jasur Talipov launched the Trust The Badge Podcast to foster trust between the community and law enforcement. He has recorded around 20 episodes featuring conversations with current officers, politicians, and citizens. While he acknowledges the legitimate incidents that have cast police in a negative light, he believes that the positive aspects far outweigh the negative.

On this episode of the Blue View Podcast, National President Patrick Yoes sits down with Jasur to discuss what inspired him to speak up in support of law enforcement and in an effort to bridge the divide.

On this episode of the Blue View, National President Patrick Yoes sits down with Steven Dettelbach, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Director Dettelbach has served as Director since 2022, and in over his 30 year career has been involved in investigating nearly every type of criminal organization.

Before becoming Director, Steve served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, where he managed high level criminal litigations and complex civil cases.

Throughout his career, Director Dettelbach has proven himself to be a purveyor of justice and a proud friend of the FOP. National President Yoes discusses with the Director the ongoing gun epidemic, and what can be done to manage and protect our communities from gun violence.

This past March, for the first time, the nation’s oldest and largest organization of law enforcement officers—the Fraternal Order of Police—joined forces with the nation’s oldest and largest union of professional firefighters—the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). Rank-and-file law enforcement officers and firefighters traveled together to our Nation’s capital to highlight the important issues facing our public safety organizations.

They shared with Congress the challenges of public safety officers, including the right of public safety officers to collectively bargain, protecting due process for officers and firefighters, and repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO)!

On this episode of the Blue View Podcast, National FOP President Patrick Yoes sits down with IAFF General President Ed Kelly to discuss the two organizations and their shared fight for fairness.

We can measure time, but we cannot measure loss. On 15 May, we’ll gather on the West Front of the Capitol to honor our fallen Brothers and Sisters who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community. The sacrifice of these fallen officers and their families will never be forgotten.

On this episode of the Blue View, National President Patrick Yoes sits down with Glenda Lehmann, President of the National FOP Auxiliary Board. We’re also joined by Matt Hagen, who Chairs the Memorial Committee. Matt and the Memorial Committee are responsible for the planning, setup and execution of the National Peace Officers Memorial Service in Washington D.C.

In 1997, Florham Park (NJ) Police Officer Patrick Montuore had a simple idea: organize a four-day bicycle ride from New Jersey to Washington, DC to raise public awareness about law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty, and to ensure that their sacrifice is never forgotten. With that, the Police Unity Tour was formed.

What started with 18 riders on a four day fund-raising bicycle ride from Florham Park, NJ to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. has grown into 9 chapters consisting of nearly 2,600 members nationwide who make the trip annually. Participants include riders, motorcycles, and support personnel.

On this episode of the Blue View, National President Patrick Yoes sits down with Patrick Montuore and Harry Phillips, the Executive Director of the Unity Tour.

What does it say about when its capital is one of most dangerous cities? Washington, DC is experiencing a crime crisis like no other. A couple years back, the D.C. City Council passed a dangerous bill that would have embolden criminals, dramatically increase crime and violence, and render police officers in the District of Columbia virtually powerless to adequately police the city and keep its residents and visitors safe. What has happened since should alarm all Americans.

On this episode of the Blue View Podcast, National President Patrick Yoes is joined by Gregg Pemberton, Chairman of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department Labor Committee. Gregg represents the more than 3,600 rank-and-file DC MPD officers who go to work every day to serve and protect those in living in our nation’s capital.

Last year, over 330 police officers were shot in the line of duty. With the COVID-19 pandemic behind us and after so many Americans have seen the tragic consequences of the defund the police movement, it was our hope that these numbers would be a high-water mark. We were wrong.

Instead, 378 officers were shot in the line of duty in 2023, the highest number the FOP has ever recorded. Thankfully, because of dramatic improvements in medical trauma science and anti-ballistic technology, the lethality of these attacks has been reduced and only 46 of the officers shot in the line of duty were killed. There were 115 ambush-style attacks on law enforcement officers this year, which resulted in 138 officers shot, 20 of whom were killed.

On this episode of the Blue View Podcast, National President Patrick Yoes is joined by National FOP Vice President Joe Gamaldi to discuss the FOP’s recent report on officers shot and killed in the line of duty.