TX Gov. Greg Abbott shares his public safety priorities during Fort Worth visit
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pledged to continue backing law enforcement if elected to his fourth gubernatorial term while at a Fort Worth campaign event on Tuesday.
Sitting alongside Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez, Sheriff Bill Waybourn and Robert Leonard, the president of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, Abbott said he is most passionate about Texans’ safety.
The event, held at the Fort Worth Police Officers Association, was invitation-only and brought out about 50 law enforcement officers and politicians.
The governor said his priorities in the next term would be to secure the border, get repeat offenders off the streets, establish a statewide prosecutor and protect officers’ personnel files.
“One thing about public safety: It’s not like one and done,” Abbott said. “It requires ongoing vigilance every single day for us to be able to keep the people of Texas safe. Our pledge is that ongoing commitment to our state.”
Abbott underscored his history of supporting law enforcement through bail reform legislation “to correct what the leftist progressive judges and [district attorneys] were doing letting dangerous criminals back in on the street.”
As governor, he has pushed for every county to aid the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through the 287(g) program.
Tarrant County first joined the program, which gives officers certain powers reserved for ICE agents, in 2017 when President Donald Trump first pushed for the program to be used. The Commissioners Court extended the policy in a 3-2 vote along party lines in 2020.
Abbott has also promised to defund cities that defund the police.
At the Tuesday event, Abbott announced the endorsement of eight law enforcement groups, including the Fort Worth Police Officers Association political action committee, Tarrant County Law Enforcement Association, Arlington Police Officers Association and the Fort Worth Black Police Officers Association. He also received Waybourn’s endorsement.
“These officers represent the very best of the state of Texas,” Abbott said. “I thank them for their service, for their sacrifice and for their bravery. And as long as I am their governor, they know they will have a governor who has their back. Working together, we will keep Texas safe and secure.”