– Texas agency says megachurch shooting highlights damage done by ‘defund police’ movement
– Texas agency highlights damage caused by ‘defund police’ movement in megachurch shooting.
By Trend News Line 2024-02-13 05:40:23.
Head of Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission highlights damages caused by defund police movement in wake of Lakewood Church shooting
The head of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), Kevin Lilly, has pointed to the recent shooting at Lakewood Church in Houston as a stark example of the consequences of the defund police movement in metropolitan areas. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Lilly joined Houston’s mayor, police officials, and others to provide an update on the shooting at Joel Osteen’s megachurch.
Lilly emphasized the importance of public safety, stating, “I would say this to elected officials that want to defund police: I say they do so at their own political peril. We need to unify as a community to defend our men and women in the thin blue line.” He expressed gratitude to the law enforcement officials who responded to the shooting, calling them the “personification of heroism and valor.”
The shooting at Lakewood Church was stopped by two off-duty officers who were working as security guards at the church. Lilly commended their bravery, stating, “They were a wall that existed between worshipers and terror, between freedom of religion and murder. We should all be mindful of the sacrifices that our men and women in law enforcement make every day. It is a profession of the highest honor.”
Lilly’s comments come at a time when several major cities, including Chicago, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Portland, and Austin, have taken steps to defund their police departments. In Austin, the City Council and former Mayor Steve Adler voted to significantly reduce APD’s funding in 2020, leading to a decline in officer numbers. Although legislation forced the city to restore some funding, the department remains understaffed.
While Lilly acknowledged that he may not always agree politically with Houston Mayor John Whitmire, he praised the mayor for his consistent support of law enforcement and public safety.
The Lakewood Church shooter has been identified as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, a Hispanic female who entered the church with her 7-year-old son and opened fire at the off-duty officers using an AR-15. A 57-year-old man was shot and survived, while Moreno’s son was critically injured.
The motive for the shooting remains unclear, and the FBI has commended the actions of the officers who stopped the shooter, stating that their heroic actions saved lives.
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– Texas agency megachurch shooting damage
– Megachurch shooting defund police movement.