Ohio U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno sends message about law enforcement
ASHVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — Campaign season will soon start ramping up for a highly anticipated U.S. Senate race in Ohio that eyes from all over the country will be watching.
The race is between Republican candidate Bernie Moreno and incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). Moreno made a stop in Ashville, Ohio on Friday to talk with law enforcement.
Moreno said he wants to ensure qualified immunity stays intact.
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“Without qualified immunity there’d be a mass exodus from the police force, for an obvious reason,” Moreno said.
Qualified immunity protects government employees, like police officers, from civil lawsuits for actions like inappropriate use of force, unless it can be clearly proven that the use of force was unconstitutional.
There are efforts both in Ohio and at the national level to pare the law down — or eliminate it.
“This is all about putting us in a society of chaos and mayhem and I’m not going to allow that to happen,” Moreno said.
Moreno said officers are “nearly perfect” and should not have to be in a position where they have no protections.
“The stats are pretty remarkable for police officers. They are nearly perfect. I mean you’re talking about an extremely low number of issues and what problems are you trying to cure,” Moreno said. “Can you imagine if you did a negative story, not that that ever happens, and all of a sudden you lose everything you own? You’d never do the job.”
In a statement a spokesperson for Brown’s campaign said, “Sherrod works across the aisle to make sure sheriffs and local law enforcement have the resources they need.” The spokesperson also said Brown supports keeping qualified immunity in place.
Moreno also took jabs at Brown’s border stance and the bi-partisan border bill that Brown voted for.
“The bi partisan quote unquote law that he talks about would basically out in place permanent amnesty, permanent parole, for people who violated out laws. It was a terrible bill,” Moreno said.
In a statement, Brown’s team said: “Bernie Moreno is trying to distract from his record of lying to Ohioans, opposing the Bipartisan Border Security Deal, which was endorsed by border patrol agents, and opposing Sherrod’s FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which will support law enforcement by curbing the flow of fentanyl across the southern border.”
Moreno says he is also committed to creating a more affordable economy and that people should not feel like it is a luxury to buy fries from McDonalds.
Election Day is set for November 5.
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