Texas Republican Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne ran a full-page ad in the New York Post urging New York police officers to leave the city behind and come to the Lone Star State.
The ad in the newspaper’s April 9 edition features the headline: “Ladies and Gentlemen of Law Enforcement, It’s Time to Escape New York and Move to Texas!”
“Your lives don’t have to be endangered by violent career criminals who are never locked away,” reads the ad. “You don’t have to be beaten on the streets by gangs of illegal immigrant criminals. And you don’t have to be endlessly insulted by budget cuts by Defund the Police politicians.”
“It’s time for you to leave these loathsome and destructive fools behind,” the ad continues. “Escape from New York.”
Ms. Van Duyne’s ad follows the death of slain New York policeman Johnathan Diller, who was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop last month. The 31-year-old officer and his partner had approached two men in a vehicle parked illegally in front of a bus stop.
Multiple media outlets reported that both suspects had lengthy criminal histories.
Texas Republican lawmakers have opposed efforts to reduce cash bail policies and loosen prosecution of some nonviolent offenses amid the national debate over criminal justice and police reforms.
“Like so many others around the country, we were heartbroken over the senseless and utterly tragic loss of your brother in blue, NYPD Officer Johnathan Diller,” the ad begins. “We grieve for you, the family he leaves behind, and the law enforcement community [that] has suffered too many of these preventable catastrophes.”
Ms. Van Duyne hosts in August one of the largest annual job fairs in North Texas.
“Every year, we have numerous law enforcement agencies looking for good officers, and if I can marry up even one good officer to come to North Texas—it will be worth it for our community and for that officer,” Ms. Van Duyne told The Dallas Morning News.
“Texas is Looking for Good Officers,” the ad states. Just below that line is a list of 15 North Texas departments where officers can apply.
Ms. Van Duyne, who is up for reelection in November, reportedly used campaign funds to buy the ad and said it “would be well worth the cost” if New York officers moved to her state.
The cost of the ad is not known.
“Our cost of living is lower,” the ad continues. “Our quality of life is better. And Texans embrace, support, and love the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our families.”
Ms. Van Duyne’s opponent, Democrat Sam Eppler, said the Republican lawmaker has no serious policy proposals to attract officers to Texas.
“This is an example of MAGA [Make America Great Again] theatrics,” Mr. Eppler said of the ad, according to The Dallas Morning News. “This isn’t policy.”
‘Wasting New Yorkers’ Time’
A spokesperson at New York City Hall told The Dallas Morning News that NYPD comprises the “nation’s best, brightest, and strongest individuals” who have worked to reduce crime.“Instead of wasting New Yorkers’ time and Texans’ money to try to gain cheap political points, Representative Van Duyne should focus on finding ways to reduce the high homicide rates in Texas that have continued under her time in office,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been critical of Texas Republicans, including Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, for busing thousands of illegal immigrants to New York. He accused him of using them as “political pawns.”
This past week, Mr. Abbott was in the city for the New York Republican Party’s annual gala.
Mr. Adams used the opportunity to lash out against the Texas governor.
“I’m going to offer him a stay in one of the HERRCs [Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers] so he can see what he has created and understand how we are treating people with the dignity and respect that he should have shown as well,” Mr. Adams said during a press conference.
“I’m not quite sure why he’s here and what he’s doing here, but he’s going to see how you can manage a crisis with the coordination of not one child of families sleeping on the streets of the city of New York,” the mayor continued.
“When we coordinate together, we should not displace problems to local municipalities. That is not what executives do. It is unfortunate that he made the decision to do that.”
