A 25-year Los Angeles Police Department veteran has fired back at Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) after she made controversial statements about the role of law enforcement during a recent podcast appearance.
Deon Joseph, now a law enforcement consultant, took strong exception to Crockett’s assertion that preventing crime is not the purpose of police officers.
The Democrat lawmaker made these remarks during an interview on the “Grounded” podcast.
The podcast, hosted by former Montana Senator Jon Tester and journalist Maritsa Georgiou, featured a discussion about President Donald Trump’s deployment of federal resources to combat crime in major cities.
When Tester questioned Crockett about Trump’s use of the National Guard and federal agents in Washington D.C., with plans to expand similar operations to Chicago and Los Angeles, the congresswoman responded with sharp criticism.
“How is it that we have a government that is hostile towards its people?” Crockett asked during the interview.
“I mean, we are in the midst of a hostile government takeover, and it is our government that is like bringing the hostility.”
The Texas representative specifically targeted Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and National Guard personnel in her critique.
“ICE is not trained to go out and do what they’re doing. Same thing with our National Guard,” she stated.
Crockett argued that law enforcement actions should be limited to state and local police officers, along with federal officers from agencies such as the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration.
She claimed these are the only personnel properly trained for such work.
The congresswoman’s position reflects what appears to be a misunderstanding of the current deployment strategy.
Trump has positioned the National Guard in D.C. and Los Angeles to support existing law enforcement officers rather than replace their operations.
ICE agents are additionally performing their designated function of enforcing federal immigration laws.
Crockett continued her argument by stating that only traditional law enforcement officers possess proper training in investigatory procedures.
Perhaps the most controversial portion of Crockett’s comments came when she directly addressed the fundamental purpose of police work.
“Law enforcement isn’t to prevent crime. Law enforcement solves crime,” she declared on the podcast.
She elaborated on this position, saying, “That is what they are supposed to do. They are supposed to solve crimes, not necessarily prevent them from happening, per se.”
This statement prompted a strong response from Joseph, who dedicated over two decades to serving with the LAPD.
The veteran officer challenged Crockett’s characterization of police responsibilities.
“As a police officer, I did not sign up to be an after-the-fact entity in the lives of the people I serve,” Joseph stated in his rebuttal to the congresswoman’s claims.
Joseph drew from his extensive experience patrolling during particularly violent periods in Los Angeles history.
“I policed in the ’90s and the 2000s, where bodies were dropping left and right. People were dying. People were getting shot,” he explained.
The former officer expressed his desire for increased police presence and partnerships to prevent violence before it occurs.
“I would have loved to have more partnerships, more officers to be visible and present to deter all those precious lives from dying. It is my job to prevent crime,” he emphasized.
Joseph described his preference for preventing violent incidents rather than dealing with their aftermath.
He spoke about the difficulty of notifying families when loved ones become victims of preventable crimes.
“I would rather be visible, meeting with the community, trying to deter it,” Joseph said, highlighting the proactive approach he believes law enforcement should take.
The LAPD veteran then directed his criticism specifically at Crockett’s political motivations.
“I would like for you, instead of taking the time to score political points against the president, to step away from your TDS just for a second and encourage more people to sign up and be law enforcement officers,” he said.
Joseph called for increased recruitment to ensure adequate police presence for crime prevention.
“Please, think before you speak. Stop playing games with people’s lives. Get away from your Trump derangement syndrome for a second and see this as an opportunity to save lives,” he continued.
The law enforcement consultant concluded his remarks by highlighting recent positive outcomes in Washington D.C.
He expressed satisfaction that the nation’s capital experienced 13 consecutive days without any murders during the federal intervention period.
WATCH:
Even D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has acknowledged the effectiveness of Trump’s deployment of National Guard and additional resources, per NBC News, crediting these measures with producing a significant reduction in crime rates throughout the capital.
