June 29, 2020
Honorable Raul M. Grijalva
Chairman, Natural Resources Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Honorable Rob Bishop
Ranking Member, Natural Resources Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Chairman Grijalva and Ranking Member Bishop,
We are writing to you concerning the oversight hearing entitled The U.S. Park Police
Attack on Peaceful Protesters at Lafayette Square. While oversight of federal agencies is
in the purview of Congress, given to it by the Framers of our government in the
Constitution, it would seem the hearing, including its title, appears to lack context. It also
does not show any attention, concern, or consideration of the level of violence inflicted
upon U.S. Park Police Officers over the course of many strenuous days of violent civil
disobedience.
FLEOA is the nation's largest non-partisan, not for profit association representing federal
law enforcement officers, including officers from the United States Park Police.
Representing members from over 65 federal law enforcement agencies gives FLEOA a
unique perspective and expertise on a wide range of federal law enforcement issues.
FLEOA wanted to first, express our strong support for the United States Park Police and its
officers, who have faced budget and staffing shortfalls for years, but take to the streets of Washington D.C., New York City and San Francisco every day to keep our national
treasurers, our fellow citizens, and our nation safe.
Over the last few weeks, we have watched federal law enforcement officers become the
bulwark against rioters, looters and anarchists. While otherwise peaceful protests were co-
opted by radical groups focused on destruction vs. dialogue, federal law enforcement
officers were thrust into roles of protecting and preserving the safety of not only city
streets, but also our nation's monuments and our history that we all hold dear. While some
chose to focus on showing videos of only the law enforcement response, there are
countless other videos of these rioters and anarchists attacking law enforcement officers.
No clearer was that role than here in Washington D.C., where Lafayette Park was besieged
by radical and violent groups and individuals. These are the same individuals that set fire
to and vandalized St. John's Church, attacked and vandalized monuments in and around
our nation's capital— including the World War II memorial, a tribute to an entire
generation of Americans that kept our world free-- and then attacked the very law
enforcement officers that were originally sent there to monitor and ensure the safety of the
individuals peaceably assembled. Much of this work fell to the officers of the U.S. Park
Police. These brave men and women came under daily—almost hourly—attack from
unpeaceful and violent rioters, and were consistently pelted with frozen bottles of urine,
fireworks, bricks, stones, street pavers, and all manner of other unknown substances.
Other federal law enforcement officers including the Uniformed Division of the Secret
Service, various DOJ entities and officers from the Metropolitan Police Department joined
the U.S. Park Police at times to try and quell the violence, stop the destruction, and allow the voices of the peaceful protesters to be heard.
While an examination of the nature of the response during these violent riots is fully within
the proper purview of the Committee’s oversight role, this hearing lacks the appropriate
balance. Such a balance should also require the Committee to look into what laws may
have been violated, the overall conduct of non-peaceful protestors at the time of the
incident, the ratio of officers to protesters, the number of arrests made, the numbers of
injuries sustained by both protesters and officers, and the agency policies in place at the
time. We'd also request that instead of a personal testimonial driven hearing that the
Committee, using its oversight power, conduct a hearing based on factual information
gathered from an ongoing investigation by the US Park Police Internal Affairs and
Department of Interior Office of Inspector General that is yet to report its factual findings.
Without that, the hearing is akin to a trial based on testimony without any verification of
the veracity of that testimony.
FLEOA supports the role of Congress to conduct oversight and welcomes a conversation
about ensuring that all laws are followed. We also recognize that law enforcement officers
have recently been painted with a broad brush, and that some elected officials and others
are perpetuating a false narrative that seems to cast all law enforcement in the most
negative light possible. These attacks and the persistent vilification of the brave men and
women who serve our communities, putting their own lives on the line to protect and serve
their communities, will serve no other purpose than to deter good men and women from
joining our ranks. That does not serve the administration of justice, the rule of law, or
public safety. We know that there is a better path, one that avoids sound bite politics for
an open and honest discussion that takes into consideration the facts and the full context of
this incident. We hope the Committee does just that.
Sincerely,
Larry Cosme
National President
cc: House Natural Resources Committee