A Colorado police officer’s call for violence against federal ICE agents exposed a dangerous anti-law enforcement culture festering within a local department, resulting in multiple terminations that raise serious questions about loyalties and respect for federal authority.

Officer’s Violent Rhetoric Targets Federal Agents

The Erie Police Department terminated an officer in November 2023 after he suggested targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers with “headshots.”

The comment, whether made on social media or verbally, represented an explicit call for violence against federal law enforcement officials. This wasn’t mere criticism of immigration policy—it was advocacy for murdering officers doing their constitutional duty to enforce federal law. The suggestion directly undermines the rule of law and threatens those who protect our borders from illegal immigration.

Mass Firings Reveal Systemic Department Problems

Between November 20 and 21, 2023, the Erie Police Department leadership terminated three sergeants and one officer, while a fifth officer resigned. The rapid-fire separations stemmed from a single misconduct complaint that uncovered multiple violations during an internal investigation.

The cluster of terminations suggests the anti-ICE sentiment wasn’t isolated but reflected a broader cultural rot within the department. For a small agency serving approximately 30,000 residents with roughly 50 officers, losing five personnel simultaneously created immediate operational challenges and raised questions about leadership oversight.

Federal-Local Law Enforcement Divide Exposed

Erie’s scandal exemplifies the dangerous fracture between local and federal law enforcement that intensified under Biden-era immigration policies. Some local officers adopted hostile attitudes toward ICE agents enforcing immigration law, viewing federal enforcement as contrary to sanctuary-style local preferences.

This represents a fundamental betrayal of the cooperative relationship necessary for effective law enforcement. Officers swear oaths to uphold all laws, not to support those that align with their personal political views selectively. The fired officer’s comments validate legitimate concerns that some local departments actively undermined federal immigration enforcement rather than supporting it.

Accountability Action Protects Department Integrity

Erie Police Department leadership deserves recognition for swift action once the misconduct surfaced. The immediate terminations in November 2023 demonstrated zero tolerance for conduct that threatened federal officers or violated professional standards. However, the fact that such attitudes existed among multiple officers, including supervisory sergeants, indicates that leadership failed to maintain a proper culture beforehand. The department issued only brief public statements without detailed explanations, leaving residents concerned about what else might lurk beneath the surface. As of 2026, with President Trump restoring respect for immigration enforcement, such anti-ICE sentiment has no place in American law enforcement.

Sources:

4 officers fired, 1 resigns from Colorado police department after misconduct complaint

Erie police officer fired after suggesting headshots on ICE law enforcement officers