Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor and the City Council issued a joint statement criticizing uncoordinated federal enforcement actions, saying they undermine public safety and community trust, and called for transparency, accountability, and coordination consistent with local policing standards.
“When overzealous federal agents enter communities to carry out enforcement actions without coordination, transparency, or accountability, the result is not greater public safety; it is fear, instability, and risk for everyone involved. These kinds of operations undermine the work of local law enforcement, erode community trust, and make it harder for cities to keep people safe.
Wednesday’s federal immigration action in Minneapolis, which resulted in the death of Renee Good, is a devastating and unacceptable example of what happens when force is prioritized over judgment and human life. And just yesterday, Border Patrol agents shot two more people. A woman was killed in a public space. People were shot in our streets. That is not public safety. That is not a high quality of life. And it is not something any community should be asked to accept.”
“Regardless of anyone’s legal status in this country, our responsibility as elected officials is to ensure that every person who lives in our communities can do so with dignity and without fear of violence. People should not be afraid to walk down their street, go to work, or interact with authorities because uncoordinated federal actions have turned neighborhoods into enforcement zones.
Local public safety works best when it is rooted in trust, accountability, and relationships. Our local law enforcement officers are trained to serve the communities they know, to de-escalate conflict, and to operate within clear systems of oversight. When federal agents act independently and aggressively within local neighborhoods, it puts residents and officers alike at greater risk and weakens the very conditions that keep communities safe.”
“In Frederick, we hold ourselves to a clear standard. When our local officers use force, those incidents are thoroughly investigated. When officers are found to have acted wrongly, they are held accountable. That commitment to transparency and accountability is essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring safety for residents and officers alike. We expect the federal government to meet that same standard.
We remain committed to protecting a community where safety is built through trust, coordination, and respect for human life; not fear and force. Our streets must be places of security, not scenes of tragedy.”
