Republican candidate JD Vance discusses some recent issues that law enforcement faces.
Precious Grundy / Lima News
OTTAWA — Republican Senate candidate JD Vance visited Ottawa on Wednesday to discuss with police the ongoing challenges the officers face in their line of duty.
The local representative from Middletown, Ohio said, “Due to the recent spike in violent crime I want to understand not just the problem but what we actually might be able to do to solve it at a federal level.”
Vance met with law enforcement to personally discuss the needs and concerns in this region. Law enforcement transparently brought up local concerns such as long-term funding and staffing issues. Many officers mentioned their staff is sometimes burned out because they have fewer officers on their force. Others mentioned although funds are helpful, there need to be long-term grants to continue to fund their department.
“When I speak to my officers the concern I hear is mental illness,” said Mike McCann Mayor of the city of Defiance. “We do not have the proper facilities to treat those with mental illnesses. If someone has committed a crime with mental illness, prison is not the place for them.”
JD Vance is no stranger to facing and overcoming adversity. “There is a perception that if you grew up in an underprivileged community you do not like law enforcement and at the end of the day, people, if law enforcement is not doing their jobs, communities that are not safe end up struggling,” said Vance.
The Ohio Democratic Party believes Vance does not effectively support law enforcement because he does not support the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“The ATF has a theoretically useful purpose,” said Vance. “The problem is ATF has gotten so focused on problems that are not a part of its competency. I believe that it will be easier to get rid of the program and replace it than try and reform it.”
The Middletown native intends to run this campaign based on the inflation crisis.
“The goal is to get back to American Energy Independence and make it possible for the state of Ohio to live a good life,” said Vance.
JD Vance hopes to address concerns as a Senator and advocate for law enforcement needs.
The event was hosted by Putnam County Republican Party Chairman Tony Shroeder.
