Last September, two Los Angeles County Sheriff deputies were ambushed by gunfire. As they fought for their lives in the emergency room that evening, anti-police demonstrators gathered outside the hospital and despicably called for their deaths. While these abhorrent acts were once considered rare, the riots and direct acts of violence which have unfortunately defined 2020 have killed or injured thousands of police officers. There seems to be a growing sentiment that police officers are the enemy. Those who promote these misperceptions must cease creating a divide between the police and the public if peace is to be restored.

We have experienced protests turning into violent riots that often include focused attacks on police officers. The Nevada Police Union calls upon community leaders to assist in ending the demonizing of our public-safety heroes who have taken an oath to protect and defend the Constitutions of the United States and Nevada. Specifically, the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights states, “Congress shall make no law abridging the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” However, rioting and protesting are not synonyms. The rioting by anti-police groups seen in Las Vegas, Reno, and cities across our country run in opposition to those who peacefully protest.

With that, the brave women and men of the Nevada Police Union recognize that positive change has always followed those social leaders who peaceably assemble to petition the government. The Nevada Police Union wants those who have peacefully demonstrated to know that we stand with you. Likewise, we have seen a growing sentiment trying to villainize police officers with broad sweeping generalizations based upon inaccurate information. The fact of the matter is our women and men who wear the badge come from all different cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. We care about all communities and wish to protect and serve all, especially our most vulnerable and victims.

There have been peaceful demonstrations and calls for social justice across this country. Unfortunately, most media gravitates toward the violent instigators who create chaos. This has overshadowed legitimate protests and calls for reform. Supporting your public-safety officers and supporting peaceful protestors who seek justice goes hand-in-hand. We all have families that we care deeply about and we need to stand together to speak against injustices, while also supporting our police officers who are working to keep the public safe. The fact remains, without police, there is no law and order. And without law and order, our civil society will disappear.

It takes education and visionary leadership to create change that effectively moves us forward into a more civil and just society. It shouldn’t have to fall on the shoulders of the police officers on the front line, but it has. We at the Nevada Police Union see many opportunities where certain reforms can be beneficial to this topic. Legislation such as banning ticket and arrest quotas, removing policies that create pressurized policing, mandating all law-enforcement have body cameras, creating a more professional public-safety status with higher standards in recruiting, meaningful development and training, and recruiting a more diverse workforce. The Nevada Police Union stands ready to aid Nevada’s legislators, as they gather in Carson City this February, to help create meaningful change that goes to the heart of this issue. It is time to stop playing politics with the safety of our police officers and communities. Let’s work together for peace and prosperity for all.

Matthew Kaplan is the president of the Nevada Police Union.