MILWAUKEE — Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance of Ohio made his second trip to Wisconsin since he became former President Donald Trump’s running mate during the Republican National Convention (RNC) held in Milwaukee last month.
During a Friday visit to the Milwaukee Police Association (MPA), Vance thanked the officers who helped keep the city safe during last month’s political convention, before he put the spotlight on crime and ultimately accepted the union’s endorsement.
“What we want to talk about today is how we need to have a law enforcement policy that is just supportive of the people who are keeping us safe,” Vance said.
As agencies nationwide face staffing struggles, Vance laid out Republicans’ vision for keeping the streets safe, including enhancing social security benefits for law enforcement officers who may typically have to rely on their pensions instead.
“Our leaders have attacked the police for so long that a lot of people just don’t want to do police work anymore. That is the first thing that leadership needs to change,” Vance added.
The MPA is the union representing rank-and-file officers in the Milwaukee Police Department. Alexander Ayala, who serves as president of the organization, said the list of challenges officers face is long.
“Low bail for dangerous criminals, the need for honest and concentrated efforts to pursue those offenders wanted on bench warrants, low officer morale,” Ayala explained. “That’s why the MPA is endorsing the presidential ticket of Donald Trump and JD Vance because addressing these issues isn’t political. It’s truly a matter of life and death to Milwaukee.”
Meanwhile, a new ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll released Friday shows more Americans favor Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who is running alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, as a pick for vice president than Vance, which he addressed when asked about the latest numbers.
“I don’t put much stock in polls, especially at this early level,” Vance said. “[Walz] received a ridiculous media honeymoon where they’ve hidden, a lot of press, have hidden some of the things he’s said and done. This is a guy who actively encouraged rioters to burn down Minneapolis during the summer of 2020.”
Despite the criticism of Gov. Walz, a recorded phone call from 2020 shows Trump praised the governor at the time for how he had handled the violence that erupted in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.
Earlier this week, during a one-on-one interview with Spectrum News, Trump said he doesn’t “talk about the gentleman that’s doing a terrible job from a place called Minnesota” often on the campaign trail.
Across the street from the JD Vance event on Friday, former U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Harry Dunn held a news conference to share his perspective on the Trump-Vance ticket.
Dunn was one of the officers at the Capitol on Jan. 6. where five people were killed and believes Trump incited the violence that day.
"I see the police officers, the cars outside, and as a former police officer of 15 years, I see them and I think my brothers in blue, I just feel like Donald Trump and JD Vance are exploiting them and using them for their own personal gain," Dunn said.
Dunn was joined by Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and former Racine Chief of Police Art Powell at Friday's event.