After a volatile week of hearing that off-duty police officers may not provide security during the Miami Dolphins game on Sunday, the Miami-Dade Police Department director has mandated that officers must work the game.
On Sunday, MDPD Director Juan Perez said he is mandating his officers to work Sunday's Miami Dolphins game in order to make up for the police shortage.
"I made the decision to mandate officers to work the game under operational necessity," Perez said. "My hope is that you understand my decision. Always remember that we have a greater responsibility than others."
Earlier this week, some off-duty police officers planned to not volunteer to provide security during the Miami Dolphins game on Sunday because players "disrespect" the United States and law enforcement when they kneel in protest.
In a statement to Miami-Dade police officers, president of the Dade County Police Benevolent Association John Rivera said: "working the game, or not working the game, is a personal choice and has at the very least the same level of freedom these 'entertainers' claim to express."
The debate reignited in September when President Donald Trump said the NFL players who protest should be fired by team owners, citing they disrespect the flag.
Since that comment, dozens of NFL players have protested in various ways – either to also protest the same issues for which Kaepernick knelt, to protest Trump himself or both. Players have locked arms in unison and some have knelt.
