In a significant shift for law enforcement, President DONALD TRUMP signed a series of executive orders on his first day back in office aimed at reducing crime and restoring authority to police agencies. BETSY BRANTNER SMITH, a retired sergeant with nearly three decades of law enforcement experience and spokesperson for the National Police Association, hailed the move as a turning point for the profession.
“Since Trump has returned to office, it has really been a burden lifted for law enforcement,” SMITH told Fox News Digital. “I think this vilification of law enforcement is going to fade because politicians at the highest level are not going to go along with it anymore.”
SMITH, who now trains police officers nationwide and regularly communicates with rank-and-file officers, emphasized that the new executive orders mark a stark contrast to policies enacted during the Biden administration. On his first day, Trump signed the “Executive Order on Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions,” which repealed dozens of Biden-era directives. Among them was the “Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety” order, which promoted alternatives to arrest, restricted access to federal law enforcement equipment, and limited the use of force in arrests.
SMITH noted that law enforcement optimism is now at its highest since what she described as the “war on cops,” which she said began during the Obama-Biden administration. “Pro-police and law-and-order messaging is refreshing for the law enforcement community,” she said, adding that it could even attract new recruits to the profession.
“And what that is going to do, albeit slowly, is help us recover from these last four years of police officers retiring early or fleeing places like New York, Chicago, and LA to go to places like Florida and Arizona,” SMITH explained. “I think we’ll start to see young people interested in the profession again.”
Another key executive order signed by Trump, titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” focuses on combating cross-border crime, including drug trafficking, gang activity, and human smuggling. The National Association of Police Officers (NAPO) highlighted that the order also promotes agreements with states and localities to grant law enforcement the necessary resources and latitude to pursue investigations related to violent crimes and criminal alien activity.
SMITH, an Arizona resident, also shared insights from her regular interactions with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents. “The morale in the border patrol here in southern Arizona… it’s exploded,” she said. “They’re so happy because they get to do their jobs. They’re just happy to be back to work.”
CBP Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs HILTON BECKHAM echoed this sentiment, stating that the agency is no longer hamstrung and is operating at full force. “Change starts with leadership. Under a president who restores authority to law enforcement and backs the men and women on the frontlines, we’re seeing a complete 180 at the border,” BECKHAM said. “Historic lows in illegal crossings — numbers even veteran agents haven’t seen — and an unprecedented whole-of-government collaboration are delivering real results. The CBP mission never changed, but now we have the ability to enforce it fully: holding lawbreakers accountable, restoring order, and putting Americans first.”
[Source: Fox News Digital](https://www.foxnews.com)
[Source: National Association of Police Officers](https://www.napo.org)