If you are ever pulled over in Tampa, Florida, you can rest easy knowing that the officer conducting the traffic stop cares about members of the LGBTQ community. Indeed, as the officer scribbles out your ticket for going slightly above the speed limit, you can reflect on the plight of those who are mistreated because of their sexuality or gender identity.
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Why?
Because during Pride Month, the Tampa Police Department has issued rainbow-colored Progress Pride Flag badges to their officers. That’s right, folks. Peace officers who wish to signal their virtue while chasing down bad guys can do so by sporting one of these shiny new badges for the public to see and say “Ooooh, now THAT is one tolerant police officer!”
In a video posted on X, two officers explained the purpose of the badge:
“We all want to feel safe and respected no matter who we are. Our newest Commemorative badge, one of nine that members of the Department can choose to collect or wear, is a symbol of our Department’s commitment to serving members of the LGBTQ+ community with understanding. By fostering open communication, we can make sure that everyone feels comfortable reaching out to the police whenever they need help. The badge incorporates the rainbow flag as well as the five-color chevron that represents people of color and the transgender community. Together, these colors symbolize the continued progress for marginalized groups within the LGBTQ+ community and the forward movement for inclusion within society.”
One of the officers continued, with a straight face.“This badge can be a conversation starter, a way to show that we are allies, and a symbol of safety for those who might be hesitant to interact with the police,”
Naturally, social media did its thing, with several users slamming the Tampa Police Department over this silly use of taxpayer dollars.
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The post reads:
If a straight person were the victim of a violent crime by a gay person, and rainbow badge comes to take the report, the PERCEPTION is bias, even if it doesn’t exist. This is why police uniforms should be identical and neutral. They serve the whole community, not just subgroups.
When you put the uniform on—you represent your reporting district, not yourself.
The fact that the local government is using taxpayer funds to fund these absurd initiatives is a slap in the face to those who want law enforcement to do what they should be doing: Protecting our rights from those who would violate them.
Instead, they are pouring resources into virtue-signaling initiatives that mean nothing. Meanwhile, residents of the city are dealing with heightened crime rates. In fact, Tampa’s crime rate is higher than 79 percent of the state’s cities. Nevertheless, with gun-related homicides on the rise in the city, one can at least be comforted by the fact that their police are not homophobes. There is a silver lining in everything, right?