QUOTES
01:24 "The difference is we've got citizens in Texas and in Fort Worth specifically that stand up and say no, we're not going to have that in Fort Worth, Texas."
04:14 "Something we figured out early on is that if you want to have a well-run city that prioritizes public safety."
08:11 "So they're doing that grassroots work and so all that our council members see is man, I just got 300 emails telling me to defund the police but I've got 2 emails saying don't defund the police. So which one should I listen to?
09:22 "Get on a board, get on a commission. Get involved because now it's more important than just how many police officers do we have on the streets. This sets the tone and the culture for how our children are going to be raised in this society."
19:57 "The police officers that are signing up, one day they can be the next generation leaders that turn it around. They can be the next generation of sergeants and lieutenants like us that turn this thing around."
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SUMMARY
In this episode of the National Police Association Podcast, Sgt. Betsy Smith sits down with Manny Ramirez, President of the Fort Worth Police Officers Association. Manny shares Fort Worth's resilience in the face of movements to defund the police and how citizen support has been critical during this time.
He also shares the role of police associations in strengthening the police force and keeping it accountable for its actions. Manny further shares the positive effect of dialogue with protesters and the negative impact of recent events on the police force.
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HIGHLIGHTS
05:19 How citizens can support law enforcement
11:26 Black Lives Matter & engaging citizens on the value of police
16:55 The negative impact on police recruitment & retention
19:08 Heeding the call for public service
21:33 Protecting police families in Fort Worth & social media
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RESOURCES
National Police Association