Staff Reports
The letter reached Interior Secretary Deb Haaland from eight Republican senators and the Fraternal Order of Police, expressing deep concern over Tyler Cherry’s anti-law enforcement remarks. This Cherry guy is the Principal Deputy Communications Director for Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland, and his rants online have caused quite a stir. The senators, led by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), are voicing their worries about the negative impact Cherry’s statements have had on the morale of U.S. Park Police officers and how it’s contributing to staffing issues within the Interior Department.
The @NatlParkService remains silent after a career criminal shot and nearly killed a U.S. Park Police Officer. Meanwhile, @Interior harbors anti-law enforcement views. #DefundThePolice https://t.co/gKfaOKQp77
— USPP FOP (@1791FOP) December 5, 2023
Cherry’s history of inflammatory comments has brought much scorn upon him. From comparing the police to slave patrols to calling for the abolishment of ICE, he hasn’t held back on dissing law enforcement. And if that wasn’t enough, he also insinuated that the police partake in inciting violence rather than quelling it, and even went as far as saying that police brutality is condoned by the state. Yikes, this guy’s got a real knack for throwing shade at our hardworking men and women in blue!
Now, these senators and the Fraternal Order of Police aren’t taking Cherry’s behavior lightly. They’re demanding details on Park Police staffing shortages and are pushing for Haaland to condemn Cherry’s outrageous conduct and take the necessary steps to rectify the situation. Sen. Hagerty even spoke out, emphasizing the danger and reprehensible nature of Cherry’s anti-police rhetoric and asked for comprehensive answers from Congress. The Fraternal Order of Police even called for Cherry’s dismissal, not mincing words about the impact his extremist views can have on the 3,000 federal law enforcement officers employed by the Department of Interior.
Kenneth Spencer, chairman of the U.S. Park Police Fraternal Order of Police, didn’t hold back either, expressing deep concern over Cherry’s leadership position in the chain of command. Clearly, Cherry’s antics are causing quite a ruckus, and it’s high time for Haaland and the Department of Interior to address this mess. Those senators and the FOP made it crystal clear that Cherry’s behavior is unbecoming of a senior DOI official and that immediate condemnation and corrective action are imperative. It looks like Cherry might want to reconsider his stance before he finds himself in hot water!
