US police union says Trump January 6 pardons send ‘dangerous message’

The largest police union in the US, which endorsed Donald Trump during his campaign, said Trump’s decision to pardon more than 1,500 people convicted over the January 6 insurrection “sends a dangerous message”, in a statement on Tuesday.

The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), which endorsed Trump in September 2024, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) warned that the blanket clemency offered to rioters – including those convicted of violent offenses, and several leaders of the attack on the Capitol – threatened Americans’ safety.

“The IACP and FOP are deeply discouraged by the recent pardons and commutations granted by both the Biden and Trump administrations to individuals convicted of killing or assaulting law enforcement officers. The IACP and FOP firmly believe that those convicted of such crimes should serve their full sentences,” the IACP and FOP statement said.

It continued: “Crimes against law enforcement are not just attacks on individuals or public safety – they are attacks on society and undermine the rule of law. Allowing those convicted of these crimes to be released early diminishes accountability and devalues the sacrifices made by courageous law enforcement officers and their families.

“When perpetrators of crimes, especially serious crimes, are not held fully accountable, it sends a dangerous message that the consequences for attacking law enforcement are not severe, potentially emboldening others to commit similar acts of violence.”

The FOP endorsed Trump despite him stating repeatedly during his presidential campaign that he planned to pardon those convicted in connection with January 6. More than 150 police officers from US Capitol police and DC police were injured on January 6, and the attack has been linked to nine deaths.

Trump issued the pardons in one of his first acts in office. It contradicted his vice-president, JD Vance, who said on 12 January that people responsible for the violence during the Capitol riot “obviously” should not be pardoned.

Many Republicans ducked questions about the pardons on Tuesday, although Senator Thom Tillis told Reuters: “You make this place less safe if you send the signal that police officers could potentially be assaulted and there is no consequence.”

Lisa Murkowski, a Republican senator for Alaska, said in an interview with CNN: “I don’t think that the approach of a blanket pardon that includes those who caused harm, physical harm, to our police officers, to others that resulted in violence, I’m disappointed to see that.”

She added: “And I do fear the message that is sent to these great men and women that stood by us.”

In poll conducted earlier this month by NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, before Trump took office, roughly six out of 10 Americans expressed disapproval of Trump pardoning those involved in January 6. Eighty-nine per cent of Democrats, 62% of independents and 30% of Republicans disapproved of the pardons.

Similarly, a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Tuesday found that 58% of respondents felt that Trump should not have pardoned those convicted of crimes for January 6.