OPINION: Biden, Trump pardons compromise the safety of law enforcement officers

Jan. 20, 2025, was not a good day for the future of law enforcement. Former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump increased the target that law enforcement has on its back.

I became a police officer in 1985, and the job was difficult then. It’s only become more difficult.

Much of that difficulty, between Rodney King and George Floyd, has been self-inflicted. But that discounts the honorable service that most law enforcement officers have given over the last 40 years. That honorable service includes the brave officers who were protecting the Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021.

But the last two presidents have shown an incredible disrespect to law enforcement by the slew of pardons issued on Jan. 20. Biden’s commutation of Leonard Peltier, convicted of the 1975 murder of two FBI agents, was particularly egregious. Age and infirmity are not excuses to forgive a murderer.

I previously had a neutral opinion of Biden, even when he issued the pardon for his son. What father with the power of a pardon wouldn’t do that for his kid? I wish he had just been honest instead of claiming it was a political witch-hunt. His kid is guilty. But by commuting the sentence of Peltier, he shows his lack of commitment to law enforcement and the rule of law. He showed he’s no better than his kid.

Trump’s disrespect is equally bad, if not worse. By pardoning over 1,500 members of the January 6th criminals, he’s chosen the loyalty of a bunch of thugs over committed professionals. Many of the J6ers brutally attacked police officers who were merely doing their duty and protecting the Capitol Building. These pardons undermine the sacrifices made by officers, and it sends a dangerous message that the rule of law can be bent for political convenience.

It’s unfortunate that no one has the guts to stand up to Trump on this issue. The cowards that surround the president have an obligation to this country to stand up to him. Even Mike Johnson, the speaker of the House, had the audacity to cite redemption as an excuse for Trump’s immoral decision.

To throw gasoline on the wound, they are even talking about a play date between the J6 thugs and Trump at the White House.

It was nice to see the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Fraternal Order of Police, issue a joint statement opposing the pardons. However, the statement could have been more assertive. They needed to condemn the lack of moral character of both Biden and Trump in their censure. They needed to demand that the presidents condemn further violence against law enforcement in the name of political ideology.

As a community, we must stand firm against actions that compromise the safety of our law enforcement officers. Whether you support Trump or Biden, it is crucial to recognize and vocalize the grave errors in their recent decisions.

We must ensure that the principles of justice and respect for those who serve remain uncompromised.

Paul Chavez is a retired deputy chief of police of the Albuquerque Police Department, in which he served from 1985 to 2006.