We are living through a constitutional stress test and it’s your leadership test.
Our oath was never to a political figure, nor to a party, nor to public pressure when it turns partisan and vindictive. Our oath is — and has always been — to the Constitution and the people we serve.
In times of democratic uncertainty, the role of local law-enforcement leaders becomes decisive.
Autocracy rises when police power bends to political will. Democracy survives when police power stands firm for the rule of law.
We must be clear: obedience is not leadership. Neutrality in the face of democratic backsliding is not professionalism — it is surrender. We cannot hide behind uniforms, titles, or pensions when the Constitution needs defenders.
Police chiefs: You lead institutions built on public trust. You shape culture. If intimidation becomes a policing tool, or if dissent becomes a threat to “order,” we have forfeited the very legitimacy that gives us authority. Stand firm, speak clearly, train your officers to intervene when power is abused — whether that abuse comes from the street or from the top.
Sheriffs: You are elected by the people. Your power comes from them — not from Washington, not from a governor, and certainly not from any political personality. Your duty is to protect your communities from abuses of power, not assist them. History will remember whether you stood as constitutional guardians or political enforcers.
In every autocratic slide abroad, police were either the shield of liberty or the spear of repression. There is no middle ground.
This isn’t about politics. It’s about duty.
It’s about the oath we raised our right hand to honor.
It’s about the country we promised to protect — not just from crime, but from tyranny.
Leadership is not tested in ease. It is tested in moments exactly like this.
Stand with the Constitution.
Stand with the people.
Stand on the side of history that future generations will thank — not condemn.
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The Twelve Benchmarks of Autocracy
1. Silencing dissent
Authoritarians try to intimidate critics and restrict speech so citizens fear speaking freely.
2. Targeting political opponents
They use the justice system as a weapon to punish rivals and protect loyalists from accountability.
3. Undermining the legislature
They bypass or weaken legislative authority to centralize power in the executive branch.
4. Using the military at home
They deploy military forces domestically not for safety, but to project power and suppress opposition.
5. Defying the courts
They ignore or work around court rulings to avoid legal limits and erode judicial independence.
6. Inventing emergencies
They declare exaggerated or false emergencies to seize extraordinary powers and override normal checks.
7. Attacking marginalized groups
They identify vulnerable groups as threats, fueling fear and division to justify their power claims.
8. Controlling media and information
They undermine independent journalism and manipulate public information to control the narrative and silence criticism.
9. Politicizing education
They attempt to reshape universities and academic institutions to suppress independent thought and dissent.
10. Cult of personality
They elevate themselves as indispensable saviors, demanding praise and loyalty above democratic institutions.
11. Personal enrichment
They use public office to enrich themselves, their families, and allies, treating government like private property.
12. Manipulating elections and staying in power
They change election rules, intimidate officials, and undermine democratic norms to make it harder for opponents to win — sometimes hinting at removing term limits.
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Modern authoritarianism doesn’t arrive with tanks — it comes gradually, through leaders who weaken democratic norms, punish critics, centralize power, and convince citizens to accept it. Democracies decline when leaders attack institutions and the public shrugs, believing it can’t happen here. History shows it can.
— Summarized from “The Editorial Board” of the New York Times, October 31, 2025. The Editorial Board is a group of opinion journalists whose views are informed by expertise, research, debate and certain longstanding values. It is separate from the newsroom.
Improving Police: A Necessary Conversation 