As part of National Law Enforcement Week, one Republican legislator had a great idea to better understand the day-to-day experiences of police officers.

Florida congresswoman Kat Cammack challenged Democrats to take part in an “educational ride-along” during the ‘Back the Blue Bike Tour’ held at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Before dismissing her invitation as political theater, critics on the left need to realize where Cammack, who holds a master’s degree in national defense and strategic studies from the United States Naval War College, is coming from. During the time she was at the rally, her husband, a firefighter and SWAT medic, was on a response call.

“This is just a normal everyday for us,” Cammack said, “but the feeling in the pit of my stomach never changes.”

Speaking at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during the event, House Minority Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy said the bike tour was a time to honor the men and women in blue who put their lives on the line each day to keep Congress safe.

McCarthy noted that during the past year 394 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty but more than a statistic it’s important for people to realize there is a person behind each badge - a mother, father, spouse or friend - who paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend our communities.

Noting that the best officers are the ones who tie into and connect with their communities, Cammack also thanked average citizens for standing up against the push from the left and from media pressure to demonize police.

Cammack recently gained attention for speaking on the House floor in opposition to the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a partisan and comprehensive police overhaul legislation that passed the House with no Republican support in March and now awaits the attention of the Senate. The bill would limit access to federal grants to law enforcement agencies that do not follow new policing standards.

It would also limit the transfer of military goods to police departments, thus depriving them of some critical, lifesaving equipment.

During her speech, Cammack showed her husband’s SWAT vest which he wore while on a “massive manhunt” for an individual “who raped and killed his girlfriend.” The House bill would take away certain military-grade equipment like the vest.

Rally cries to “defund the police” or “abolish the police,” which have persisted since last year’s George Floyd death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. Cammack said the thought of abolishing police in our communities was unconscionable.

A priority in the Biden administration’s gigantic “infrastructure” package should be should be to “fund,” not defund the police. High-stressed situations often demand split-second responses, and updated resources, such as the latest in virtual scenario simulators which can help train officers in making the quick decisions during desperate encounters.

The leftist activists, media and politicians who want to abolish police or limit their abilities to perform duties to protect us should heed the words of Rep. Cammack.

There’s a reason why people call police - not social workers - whenever there’s a life-threatening situation such as a shooting or domestic violence dispute.

By Jim Zbick | tneditor@tnonline.com