Nov 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.11

GUEST COMENTARYChief Tom

GUEST COMENTARYChief Tom WeitzelBadges Aren't Red or BluePolice leaders must stand firm against political interferenceBy Chief Tom Weitzel (RET)Reprinted from Police1.comA troubling trend has infiltratedAmerican law enforcement:political interference that underminespolice leadership andjeopardizes officer safety. Whilemany exceptional police chiefs,superintendents and sheriffsacross the country serve theircommunities with honor, agrowing threat cannot be ignored.Even here in the Chicago metroarea, we are fortunate to haveoutstanding police leadership.The Chicago Police Departmenthas a capable superintendent,and many suburbandepartments in Cook Countyand neighboring counties areled by professionals committedto public safety. But leadershiptoday must do more than manageoperations — it must resistinappropriate political pressurefrom mayors, village presidentsand city managers who seek tocontrol police departments forideological gain.Since the death of GeorgeFloyd in Minneapolis, politicalinfluence has increasingly targetedpolice leadership. One ofthe most dangerous examples isthe directive — often issued be-hind closed doors — not to assistICE agents when they are underattack.Let me be clear: ICE agentsare federal law enforcementofficers. When they are injuredin the line of duty and call forhelp, it is unconscionable forlocal police to be ordered not torespond. This is not just a breachof professional conduct — it is abetrayal of the core law enforcementprinciple that we assistfellow officers in need. Tragically,such refusals have alreadyled to preventable injuries anddeaths.In Chicago, ICE agents involvedin a collision while apprehendinga suspect were falsely accusedof misconduct after viral photosdistorted the truth. The mediaran with the narrative withoutfact-checking, and the ChicagoPolice Department reportedlysent a commander to ensure officersfollowed the directive notto assist.Such incidents are part of abroader problem that extendsbeyond any single agency.THE RISE OF POLITICIZEDPOLICINGOne of the most corrosivetrends in modern policing is theappointment of law enforcementleaders based on politicalloyalty rather than experience ormerit. When chiefs and sheriffsare selected to serve politicalagendas instead of public safety,the consequences are immediateand damaging.Political pressure often interfereswith the independenceof investigations, especially inhigh-profile cases. It’s not uncommonto see elected officialsconducting press briefingsabout major arrests or incidents— briefings that should be ledby the chief or sheriff. Theseappearances are rarely about informingthe public; they’re aboutoptics, reelection and politicalgain.This practice not only sidelinesprofessional policing — it erodespublic trust. When law enforcementis seen as an extension ofpolitical machinery, communitiesbegin to question the motivesbehind every decision, everyarrest and every policy. That’s adangerous place to be.Police leaders must reclaimtheir voice. They must insist onoperational independence andresist being used as props in politicaltheater. The badge is nota campaign tool — it’s a publictrust.It is official misconduct to orderofficers to ignore fellow lawenforcement agents in distress.24 The BLUES NOVEMBER ‘25

Chiefs must have the courage todefy such orders. Patrol officersand detectives are often caughtin a political crossfire, but policeleadership bears responsibility. Ifwe allow this to continue, it willcost lives.Policing must remain rooted inservice, not politics. The badge isnot red or blue — it’s gold. And itmust never be for sale.WHAT POLICE LEADERS CANDO TO KEEP POLITICS OUT OFPOLICINGIn today’s hyper-partisanclimate, the line between governanceand interference isblurring — and that should alarmevery police leader in America.Policing is not a political tool.It is a public service groundedin constitutional authority, communitytrust and professionalstandards. Yet too often, law enforcementdecisions are shapednot by data or operational needbut by political pressure, mediaoptics or campaign agendas.That’s not just dangerous — it’sunsustainable.So what can police leaders do?Draw the line — publicly andinternally. Chiefs and sheriffsmust clearly define the boundarybetween political oversightand operational independence.Elected officials have a role inbudgets and policy priorities, butthey should never dictate tacticaldecisions — such as who getsarrested, what charges are filedor how officers are deployed.When that line is crossed, leadersmust speak up, even whenit’s uncomfortable.Refuse to be a prop. Lawenforcement leaders shouldnot appear at campaign rallies,endorse candidates or allowtheir departments to be used aspolitical backdrops. Wearing thebadge means serving all people,not just those in power. Neutralityis not weakness — it’s integrity.Make data the driver. Decisionsabout crime trends, resourceallocation and communityengagement should be basedon data — not headlines or polling.Every agency should have afull-time data analyst. When youlead with facts, you leave lessroom for political spin.Train for ethical courage.Leadership training must includehow to navigate political pressure.Officers and command staffneed tools to recognize wheninfluence becomes interference— and the courage to push back.Silence is complicity.Engage the public before politiciansdo. Build trust directlywith your community. Hold townhalls, publish use-of-force dataand explain your policies. Whenthe public hears from you first,political narratives lose theirgrip.Support oversight — withguardrails. Civilian oversightcan enhance transparency, but itmust respect operational boundaries.Review is not command.Police leaders should help shapethese boards, not resist them.FINAL THOUGHTPolicing must remain rootedin service, not politics. Thatrequires courage, clarity and acommitment to principle overpopularity. The badge is not redor blue — it’s gold. And it mustnever be for sale.ABOUT THE AUTHORTom Weitzel is the retired chiefof police of Riverside, Illinois,where he served for 37 years,including 13 as chief. A survivorof a line-of-duty shooting earlyin his career, he has becomea national advocate for officersafety, responsible media coverageand legislative reform. ChiefWeitzel serves as an ambassadorfor the National Law EnforcementOfficers Memorial Fund andfrequently contributes columnsand op-eds on policing, leadershipand public safety. He can bereached at tqweitzel@outlook.com and followed on X @chiefweitzeland TikTok @chiefweitzel.OPERATION BLUE SANTACLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATIONThe BLUES - NOVEMBER ‘25 25