When we talk about the Office of the Ohio Attorney General, we often use big ideas like protecting the Constitution or upholding the law. While those are certainly important in an attorney general, the job comes down to something simple. Public safety does not happen on its own. It depends on people who put on a badge and run toward danger when others run away.
My vision for this office is simple: We need to stand with those hard-working, honorable men and women who keep our families and communities safe. If you have our backs, the attorney general must have yours. And remember, no one dislikes a bad cop more than a good cop; we won’t let the few bad apples take away the respect from the majority who bring honor to “protect and serve.”
Supporting law enforcement isn’t just politics. It is how we keep our communities safe. When officers have what they need, families are better protected. Today, officers face growing risks and unjust criticism. I will lead from the front and make sure they have the tools, training, and respect they need to do their jobs.
For me, this is personal. My father was a police officer. I remember what it felt like when he was late getting home. The uncertainty and the questions you do not say out loud stayed with me. That experience shaped how I see public safety. It is why I have spent my career backing law enforcement. I know what law enforcement families carry every day. Service is not just a word − it can mean an empty seat at the table or a missed Little League game.
Ohioans felt the weight of that sacrifice deeply in 2025. We lost five heroes who gave everything for our safety: Trooper Nicholas Clayton, Officer John M. Radabaugh, Officer Phillip Wagner, Deputy Sheriff Daniel Sherrer, and Special Deputy Larry Henderson Jr. It is critical that we honor them not just with memorials, but by ensuring their deaths were not in vain. These are the heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice to keep our families and communities safe.
Backing the blue with action
My record reflects my conviction. Throughout my time in the Statehouse and as auditor, I haven’t just talked about “backing the blue,” I’ve acted on it:
As your attorney general, I will ensure that the Bureau of Criminal Investigation is the gold standard in providing resources and expertise to local law enforcement agencies. At a time when anti-police narratives are amplified and trust is being intentionally undermined, we need a top cop who won’t flinch.
The thin blue line between order and chaos
Each May, during National Police Week, we see the blue lights glowing in windows across Ohio. These symbols matter, but they are not enough. We must also support the officers still on duty. They need mental health resources, proper equipment, and clear legal backing so they can return home safely. We owe it to those we have lost and those still serving to do more than offer words once a year. They deserve support every day.
There is a thin line between order and chaos, held together by the bravery of a few. As attorney general, my support of our law enforcement will not simply be a campaign slogan. I will be a permanent fixture in their corner, challenging the “defund” and repeal qualified immunity movements that threaten our neighborhoods. I will advocate for the funding needed to keep our officers and communities safe.
Ohio cannot afford a leader who waits to see which way the wind blows. We need a leader who knows that strong communities depend on strong, supported police departments. I am ready to lead that charge.
Keith Faber is the auditor of the state of Ohio. He is running for state attorney general.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio needs an attorney general who backs police | Opinion
Reporting by Keith Faber, Opinion contributor / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
