Show me a successful law enforcement agency, and I’ll show you a successful community.

These are the men and women who show up every time they are called, when no one else wants to. They protect the schools we send our children to, ensure our roadways are safe, and sometimes – unfortunately – must experience the most unfathomable of situations.

These men and women do this while navigating the ever-growing complexities of the job.

I won’t mince words here: police officers have continuously been beat down and vilified by the media for simply doing their jobs.

Bad actors have worked tirelessly to politicize a profession that quite frankly has no room whatsoever for it.

This situation has cast a ripple effect across every law enforcement agency in America, and this isn’t my opinion, it’s simply what the statistics are telling us.

A nationwide survey of over 7,900 police officers revealed that 86% believe high-profile incidents involving law enforcement have made their jobs more challenging.

Approximately 72% reported being less willing to stop and question suspicious individuals, and about 75% were more hesitant to use force when necessary.

Another survey of 276 municipal police chiefs noted that the current risks associated with proactive policing discourage officers from taking action.

This reluctance is the product of law enforcement not feeling they are supported, and it’s having dangerous consequences for our communities.

It’s leading to increased crime rates, erosion of public trust, and struggles with recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers.

That’s why I’m supporting House Bill 202, the Back the Blue Protection Act.

We must fight to get it across the finish line as we approach the end of the legislative session. Our officers deserve to know that Alabama has got their backs.

This bill has a clear and simple goal: to give officers the confidence to protect our communities without fear of being dragged into court over baseless claims.

It states that officers can’t be sued in civil court unless they’ve done something clearly reckless or violated someone’s well-established rights. That’s what qualified immunity means.

It also provides criminal immunity—as long as the officer’s actions don’t cross the line into unconstitutional use of force.

But make no mistake, this isn’t a free pass. Officers would still go before a judge, who will decide whether there’s enough evidence for a case to move forward.

What this bill does is raise the bar for when a lawsuit can be brought—not eliminate accountability.

If an officer acts outside their authority, they will still be held responsible, just like anyone else.

But we shouldn’t let a good officer be sidelined for months—or even years—defending themselves against a claim that doesn’t hold water.

What critics are claiming, however, is that this bill would place law enforcement officers “above the law,” which is absolutely false.

In today’s day and age, nearly every interaction police have is recorded—whether it’s a body cam or someone filming on their phone. There’s accountability baked into the job now more than ever before.

Let me be clear: if an officer has acted outside the boundaries of his or her authority, they will still be held accountable to the full letter of the law.

All this bill does is provide them additional protections from baseless claims made against them, as decided by a judge. This is by no means the “Get Out of Jail Free Card” many are claiming it to be.

It’s a fair process for the people we count on to run toward danger when the rest are running away.

It’s disappointing that some, many of whom represent areas with the highest violent crime rates in the state, are working so hard against this Bill.

I respect the opinions of anyone who has negative feelings about the bill, but I also want to let you know that I have attended over a dozen law enforcement officers funerals over the years in Alabama and seen the loss of family members in this profession.

Alabama has a chance to lead the nation on backing the blue. Alabama’s law enforcement officers deserve nothing short of support, appreciation, and respect – especially from elected officials.

It’s time we show them we’ve got their backs—because they have yours.

Bill Partridge is a 36-year veteran of law enforcement and the Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety for the City of Oxford, Alabama.