When a uniformed, on-duty police officer speaks to the public, they are a mouthpiece of/are representing the Police Department of that community. The Community is comprised of people of differing political views, religions, sexual orientations, etc. etc. If a Police Department is thought to make an endorsement of a Political Figure’s candidacy, utter a political opinion, recommend a specific business or product, etc., they are immediately alienating other parts of the community. The Police (are supposed to) serve every member of the community equally. Making the police department, as an Agency appear to have bias can poison the perception Jurors may have when considering whether the Defendant is a “bad guy” or if, by simple virtue of a police officer working for a department where bias favoring a political party (or race) the officer might have had OTHER reasons to accuse a particular client. The police need to avoid all of that… doing otherwise can cause the officer to undergo discipline or even termination from their employment as a police officer.
(NOTE: Police Unions are not associated with the Agencies for which the Officer-members work. There is no problem for a Union to make endorsements… which, though I am a member of a Police Union, do not think is appropriate, especially when my personal political view conflicts with what the union of which I am a member has taken. It’s the same problem).