Cops angry
Clinton is ignoring families of slain police, 'sad, ashamed'
PHILADELPHIA — Law
enforcement is angered that Hillary Rodham Clinton and the Democratic National
Convention on Tuesday are featuring the relatives of victims of police
shootings and none of the family members of the 32 officers slain this year.
DNC NOT FAIR AND BALANCED
Highlands County,
Fla., Sheriff Susan Benton, said while she doesn't
minimizing the loss of the families who are speaking at the convention Tuesday,
"I feel strongly that somebody should speaking" for law enforcement.
Benton, who is the
National Sheriffs' Association presidential transition liaison to the Clinton
Campaign, added, "They are missing the boat not hearing from relatives of
police killed."
The convention is
hearing from the so-called "Mothers of the Movement," including:
Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner; Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin;
Maria Hamilton, mother of Dontré Hamilton; Lucia McBath, mother of Jordan
Davis; Lezley McSpadden, mother of Michael Brown; Cleopatra Pendleton-Cowley,
mother of Hadiya Pendleton; Geneva Reed-Veal, mother of Sandra Bland
The local police
union said it was insulted that the convention wasn't featuring any family of
cops killed in the line of duty.
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 said
in a statement: "It is sad that to win an election Mrs. Clinton must
pander to the interests of people who do not know all the facts, while the men
and women they seek to destroy are outside protecting the political
institutions of this country," the statement read. "Mrs. Clinton you
should be ashamed of yourself if that is possible," it added.
Convention speakers
have offered support for police, Benton said that law enforcement was pleased
with that.
But, the sheriff
said, "We also need to send a message of support to law enforcement."
In discussions with
the Clinton campaign, she said some advances have been made on their issues,
including access to surplus military equipment and programs to address mental
illness, domestic security, and drugs. "It's hopeful," said the
sheriff.
