Norwood, Ohio, Mayor Thomas Williams penned a letter to his local Police Department, voicing his support for the boys in blue, who he feels are “under attack by race-baiting black leaders and cowardly elected officials,” Talking Points Memo reports.
The letter was officially written on Dec. 22, days after New York City police officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were killed in their patrol car, the news site notes. In the note, Williams expressed his support, acknowledging that the Norwood Police Department has “been portrayed in negative fashion by some,” but that in his mind it has “always performed its duties in an exemplary fashion and held its high standard of conduct without any outside influence.”
Willaims encouraged the officers to look out for one another and to be vigilant while doing their jobs. “Let it be known that, God forbid, something controversial would happen, I WILL NOT ABANDON YOU,” the mayor vowed.
According to TPM, the full letter reads as follows:
With recent events across the country, I feel compelled to express my thoughts in writing as police officers across the country are under attack by race-baiting black leaders and cowardly elected officials.
As you know, Norwood, in the past, has been portrayed in a negative fashion by some. The Norwood Police Department has always performed its duties in an exemplary fashion and held its high standard of conduct without any outside influence.
As always, now is the time to be extra cautious while performing your duties. Back each other and take nothing for granted.
Let it be known that, God forbid, something controversial would happen, I WILL NOT ABANDON YOU. As I have always said, your number one goal is to go home to your family at the end of your shift.
God Watch Over The Norwood Police Department.
Fraternally yours,
Thomas F. Williams, Mayor, City of Norwood
Read more at Talking Points Memo.