Political Quotes

“I remind Mr. Bilirakis, everyone knows that Detroit is actually hockey town. Mr. Speaker, every day, members in law enforcement put on their uniform not knowing if they are going to come home, these mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters. In an era of heightened rhetoric, I stand here today to say thank you to our women and men in uniform. Recently, we have seen a rise in attacks against police officers across the country and even in west Michigan. This month, officers in Muskegon Heights responded to a domestic disturbance where two people were shot, one of them murdered. A police chase ensued when a deputy encountered the suspect driving the wrong way. When the deputy tried to apprehend the suspect while driving, he was fired upon. Multiple departments working together were able to use a police cruiser to disable the suspect's vehicle. Unbeknownst to the officers, there was also a developmentally disabled woman in the backseat who was rescued and brought to safety. This incredible story follows a weekend where 11 shootings took place in Grand Rapids. Despite all this, some of my colleagues still think that defunding the police is a good idea. I am here to tell you it is not. This will only hurt community policing initiatives for the very communities that need it the most. So, Mr. Speaker, I say thank you to the incredible men and women who serve in west Michigan.…”