Some current and former Denver police officers are unhappy with the department's role in a speech on guns to be delivered by President Obama Wednesday, CBS Denver reports.
The department asked for officers to appear behind the president as he delivers his remarks on the issue of guns.
KCNC reports:
Some current and former Denver police officers have taken to Facebook to criticize President Barack Obama’s planned use of Denver police officers as a backdrop for a Wednesday speech on gun control.
"This is wrong and it shouldn’t be happening," said Mike Rossi, a retired Denver police detective who left the department in 2005. [...]
"It’s agenda based and they shouldn’t be there," said Rossi. "To me if you put Denver police officers behind the president, who is pushing this agenda, then what you are telling the citizens of the city is that the Denver Police Department is for this."
The president's speech appears to make note of the police officers present, according to prepared remarks released by the White House.
"From the beginning of this effort, we’ve wanted law enforcement front and center in shaping the discussion and the reforms that emerge from it," Obama will say at the event.
"After all, you’re often the first to see the terrible consequences of gun violence – lives lost; families broken; communities irrevocably changed," he will say. "You know what works and what doesn’t, and we wanted that experience and that advice."
Obama will also praise Colorado for its recently enacted gun control package, according to the released remarks.
Update (4:18 p.m.): White House press secretary Jay Carney defended the appearance of police officers Wednesday during press availability aboard Air Force One.
"Well, look, obviously people have a variety of views on these issues across America," Carney said. "I think it’s irrefutable that a majority of law enforcement professionals in America support common-sense measures that are at issue now and subject to votes in Congress. I don't think anybody would argue with that."