Over the past year our nation has been plagued by calls to defund police departments and our brave officers have faced unprecedented condemnation and denunciation. Our fantastic and devoted IU police officers have not been immune to this baseless vilification. In March, protestors marched in front of the IUPD building, yelling that the officers smelled like “pigs.” The Crimson Post strongly condemns such blatantly disrespectful and abominable actions. We understand and appreciate the sacrifices that law enforcement officers, whether at the local, state, or national level, make to protect us and our communities.
To show our appreciation for the admirable work that IUPD does in service of our campus, The Crimson Post partnered with the College Republicans at IU and the Young Americans for Freedom at IU to provide lunch to IUPD officers and to present the department with a plaque. Those presenting the award, pictured above, included Kyle Reynolds, the president of The Crimson Post; Walter Gaman, the editor-in-chief of The Crimson Post and the vice president of the Young Americans for Freedom at IU; and Makenzie Binford, the vice chairwomen of the College Republicans at IU. The plaque was awarded to IUPD in “recognition of their outstanding service in protecting and defending our campus community.”
Defunding and disparaging those who only work to protect and serve us is an absolute and catastrophic mistake. It is imperative that we as students and as citizens show support for and stand in solidarity with the individuals and agencies that enforce our laws, defend our Constitution, and safeguard our communities. The Crimson Post emphatically and unequivocally expresses our appreciation and support for the many law enforcement officers and agencies that serve our great nation.