Pence draws the crowd to the Cops event for Trump in Greensburg

About an hour ago

Applause and cheers filled South Main Street in Greensburg on Thursday as Deputy Mayor Mike Pence defended a pro-police stance during a campaign event in a parking lot near the city police station.

He promised attendees 400 or more people that President Trump and the rest of the administration would “support the blue.”

“We must restore law and order in our cities and communities, for every American, of every race and creed and color,” he said, followed by “USA” shouts from the crowd.

Pence spoke for about 30 minutes during the Cops for Trump event, which was attended by current and retired police officers in Westmoreland County, as well as a host of political supporters from across the region. Other officials from various county departments and state police were on duty off-site to help control and protect traffic.

Two Pittsburgh Police officers who were part of Pence’s car were treated at a hospital after being involved in a collision at 11:40 a.m. 837 Route in White Oak.

Many in attendance had worn Trump’s paraplegia as a city park about a mile away hosted a Rally for Black Morning Life. Several protesters stopped near the City Hall during the Pence event and held signs promoting the Black Life Blackout and calling for the president to be blamed.

The police chief in the city of St. Clair Fran Plummer said he knows very well the dangers of policing and the dangers that officers face every day.

Plummer was in force in 2015 when Officer Lloyd Reed was shot dead while answering an internal call in New Florence. The man who shot the fatal shooting was acquitted of murder charges by a Westmoreland County jury in 2018.

“This is definitely a pro-police rally, and we are here to help our collaborators,” Plummer said.

Retired Westmoreland County Detective and state soldier Bob Weaver attended the rally with members of the Blue Knights Pennsylvania rider motorcycle club.

“The biggest issue, I think, is law and order,” he said. “No matter what happens, people need to be safe. There are a lot of good police officers out there.”

Pence discussed issues facing the police and the policies of Trump and his 2020 opponent, Democrat Joe Biden. Trump signed an executive order last month that will use, among other things, financial incentives to encourage police to adopt co-response programs and create an officer database with complaints against them.

“We will support the color blue with more resources and more support,” he said. “We will support the color blue by making more resources available to law enforcement agencies across the country at every level.”

Westmoreland County was a key part of Trump’s 2016 victory in Pennsylvania, which helped secure the presidency. Trump won the county by more than 30 percentage points and nearly doubled Hillary Clinton’s total vote.

Joe Latstik from Greensburg, wearing a red Trump hat, said he has brought cookies to a local police department in recent weeks to show his support.

“The police are important, and we can not slander the police,” Latstik said.

Greensburg Ginger called Pence’s message “absolutely wonderful” and she was proud to have chosen the city for a visit.

“I think it means a lot because I think we have always been overlooked as small communities,” she said. “I think the one who enters here opened the door for us to say who we are as a people and what we want as well.”

The crowd at the event easily exceeded 250 allowed for outdoor gatherings under the orders of Governor Tom Wolf to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

It turned out about half of those present wore masks. About 200 chairs were shared. Security guards tried to disperse those on foot, and a notice in advance reminded attendees to wear masks and keep their distance from others.

Democrat leaders dismissed the campaign event and the administration’s response to the pandemic.

“As chairwoman of the coronavirus force group, Vice President Pence needs to think about how to help families in places like Westmoreland County by not attending a campaign event,” said Tara Yokopenic, chairwoman of the Westmoreland County Democratic Committee.

Kate Bedingfield, Biden’s deputy campaign manager and communications director, agreed.

“Right now, as Southwest Pennsylvania struggles to contain the coronavirus pandemic – and countless Pennsylvania families and communities deal with grief and anxiety – the last thing zealous men and women in the region need is another Mike Pence photo-op. “

Greensburg Police Chief Robert Stafford said he had no involvement in the rally coming to town and could not say why the Trump campaign chose the town.

“It is an honor to have the Vice President of the United States in our city, whether Republican or Democrat,” he said.

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