June 11, 2025 • 8 mins
Brian Steel, President of Columbus FOP Lodge 9 discusses a range of topics including improvements for Law Enforcement in the city, and the L.A. protests
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I do want to get right to Brian Steele on
the Legacy Retirement Group dot com phone line. Lots to
cover with the president of the Columbus FOP Lodge nine.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Brian, I know you're busy guy. Thanks for making time
for us this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
How are you, Yeah, I'm doing great. I which time
for you, gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Appreciate you very much.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
A number of things I want to get to, including
the situation of Los Angeles. I want to get your
thoughts there, protests in Columbus and more to come this weekend,
your thoughts on how that could go and how police
are preparing for that.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
We'll do that in a second.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
But yesterday, you know, this is all in the wake
of recent violence against police officers in central Ohio. You
met with Franklin County Prosecutor shale A Favor to talk
about some of this stuff, and I want to hear
what your discussion was like. You know, we know that
you know, there was a deadly situation in Morro County,
the Mifflin County cops that were shot at during the
(00:51):
traffic stop, and this is the one that I think
you were kind of focused in on. The guy that
did this, DeVante Dixon was in front of a judge
a year ago on a gun charge that could have
could should have resulted in a long prison sentence up
to twenty years. Instead, the judge, Kim Brown, gave him
(01:12):
a three year probation sentence. Brian, It's unfathomable. And this
is really part of the problem here is these light
sentences and low bonds. And I think you've had enough
of this. And you met with Shila Favor on this.
How'd that discussion go?
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, so listen, it was really productive. We have not
had communication with the prosecutor's office under Gary Tayak's bail leadership.
So at least we have a new prosecutor and we
could have a discussion. We're not going to agree all
the time, and that's fine. I made it clear that
my priorities were I want to see people locked up
who assault the police. I'm concerned about the homicide and
gun violence in this town. About nine out ten of
(01:47):
our suspects who use a weapon are forhibited from happening
a weapon in the first place. I made it clear
instead of just blaming legislators and stuff we can't control,
I want to see the prosecutor focus on what she
can control, and that is vigorously crosscuting the illegal guns
that people carry. Now, I talked about re repeating the
sit of offenders returning to the street, and although this
(02:09):
is not in her or purview, the low bods, we
have to keep people locked up and not send them
back on the street in low bonds. She was very receptable. Again,
wherever we could agree, we find ways to align and
if we disagree, we just move on and we continue
to build a conversation. All in all, it was a
good discussion.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
And so she was receptive. Then do you think it
was meaningful? I mean, did she did just smile and
nod to get you out of her office or did
do you think there's going to be real actionable items.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Out of this?
Speaker 3 (02:40):
So the important thing is they scheduled a meeting with us,
So that's a complete change.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
That's good.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Last four years we were asked to come to the table.
I asked this simple question. I said, do you think
the current criminal justice system is working? Yes? Or no?
Because honestly, if she thinks it is and I don't
think it is, we're just on two different planets. Said
that she does not believe it's working. So right there,
we have something to come together and we could start
(03:05):
moving forward. This is going to take a lot of people.
It's going to take municipal court come and plea side,
the police department, all our different support groups and the FOP.
We can do this. I think the community is sick
and tired of looking at the news every single day
and seeing another person killed.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Yeah. Amen to that.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Speaking with Brian Steele, president of the Columbus FOP Lodge nine,
I mean, if this guy was put in prison a
year ago on those gun related convictions, this wouldn't have happened.
I mean, these these two Meflin Township cops, I know
one of them is out of is one of them
still in the hospital.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
One of the still in the hospital and he'll be
there for quite some time. We're spending more time caring
about the criminals rights and feelings than we do the
next victims.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Unbelievable. Unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
So well, I appreciate that you actually took that meeting
and spoke your mind, and hopefully we see some real
reform there, you know, with the legal system and the
way we apply sentences and bonds to some of these
bad guy because you know, they get these slabs on
the wrist man and they're going to be right back
out there doing bad stuff. All right, So let's talk
of shift gears and talk about Los Angeles and the
(04:09):
protests there. This is, in my view, not to put
a too fine of a point on it. This is
what happened Los Angeles is what happens when you defund
and disrespect the police.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Brian, listen, I agree. And let me just make clear,
while there are protesters in Los Angeles, what we're seeing
now is not is not a protest. It's a flat
out riot. And there's a difference between lawful and expression
and criminal conduct. And here's the deal with the the officers.
The officers there that are under attacked, they're under attack
for enforcing laws they didn't create. As cops. We're not
(04:41):
policy makers, we're peacekeepers. That's it.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Should probably just end the interview right there. I mean,
that is incredibly well said. You know, and we bring
up the topic and I think you and I mentioned
this last time we spoke of sanctuary cities.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
LA is one of them.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
It's actually, you know, there's more social programs and diversity
hires in Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
I don't know what these people are protesting.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
But sanctuary cities, Why do some cities get to not
follow the law?
Speaker 3 (05:10):
So I think that's going to come to the end.
I met with I was a group of FLP leaders
that met with President Trump last week in the White
House and we talked about that. Basically, he had made
it clear that those days are over. If you're not
going to support the federal government, if you're not going
to assist the federal government when they needed, they're going
to come down part in the cities. Now, what we
(05:31):
don't want to see is the federal government cutting the
local funds to Columbus because that will impact the police.
And that was brought up. So it was made clear
to us that any local government fund that's cut from
the federal government to sanctuary cities, visa e. Columbus, even
though we don't technically don't call ourselves one, he made
sure that the funding would still come to the police.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Yeah, we don't call ourselves one, but we do have
we have adopted sanctuary city policies in the city of Columbus. So,
so your thoughts on the protests, you know, as they
kind of start to pop up around the country.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Thankfully, we had an incident free one last night.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
There's more to come this weekend with a number of
different protests on Saturday. We all remember twenty twenty Bryan,
where local law enforcement they were spin on, they had
bricks thrown on them, they had frozen water bottles thrown
at them in the what we call the Summer of Love.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
I hope we don't get there.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
But how are your folks, your guys and Galip preparing
for this weekend?
Speaker 3 (06:32):
So I think it's important to know that every single
Ulster supports the right to protests peacefully. Violence and vandalism
attacks and Ulsters are never never acceptable. I have concerns
of local readiness. The Judge Marginal Order, which we all know,
which was codified by our local government. It completely limited
our response options. So we have to be equipped to
(06:52):
respond to riots that they arise. And right now I
could not tell you that we're auticqually equipped. We're autically trained,
and it's not the Division of Police's fault. We've got
completely handcuffed following twenty twenty. So I just pray for peace.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I'm right with you, And then it saddens me to
hear that you're a little concerned about the readiness there.
Did you have you witnessed the professional protesters, the professional
rioters where they will drop off a palette of bricks
in a back alley and they communicate with these bad guys.
These aren't people who are on a mission, who have
(07:26):
and I appreciate the passion of some of these folks.
I don't necessarily agree with anything they have to say,
but I appreciate their passion, and like you, I defend
their right to do so. But when it turns violent
and you got these professionals coming in, we saw that
in twenty twenty. We're seeing it in Los Angeles. Now
your thoughts there.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Yeah, the professionals that come in and they are there,
and it's a real thing. Listen, this incident has nothing
to do with immigration. This isn't an immigration issue. This
is anti government. This is pro chaos. The individuals that
come out there, it doesn't matter if it's Black Lives Matter, abortion,
you name the pause, you'll get a handful of these
individuals that just come to seek destruction and chaos.
I do want to get right to Brian Steele on
the Legacy Retirement Group dot com phone line. Lots to
cover with the president of the Columbus FOP Lodge nine.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Brian, I know you're busy guy. Thanks for making time
for us this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
How are you, Yeah, I'm doing great. I which time
for you, gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Appreciate you very much.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
A number of things I want to get to, including
the situation of Los Angeles. I want to get your
thoughts there, protests in Columbus and more to come this weekend,
your thoughts on how that could go and how police
are preparing for that.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
We'll do that in a second.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
But yesterday, you know, this is all in the wake
of recent violence against police officers in central Ohio. You
met with Franklin County Prosecutor shale A Favor to talk
about some of this stuff, and I want to hear
what your discussion was like. You know, we know that
you know, there was a deadly situation in Morro County,
the Mifflin County cops that were shot at during the
(00:51):
traffic stop, and this is the one that I think
you were kind of focused in on. The guy that
did this, DeVante Dixon was in front of a judge
a year ago on a gun charge that could have
could should have resulted in a long prison sentence up
to twenty years. Instead, the judge, Kim Brown, gave him
(01:12):
a three year probation sentence. Brian, It's unfathomable. And this
is really part of the problem here is these light
sentences and low bonds. And I think you've had enough
of this. And you met with Shila Favor on this.
How'd that discussion go?
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, so listen, it was really productive. We have not
had communication with the prosecutor's office under Gary Tayak's bail leadership.
So at least we have a new prosecutor and we
could have a discussion. We're not going to agree all
the time, and that's fine. I made it clear that
my priorities were I want to see people locked up
who assault the police. I'm concerned about the homicide and
gun violence in this town. About nine out ten of
(01:47):
our suspects who use a weapon are forhibited from happening
a weapon in the first place. I made it clear
instead of just blaming legislators and stuff we can't control,
I want to see the prosecutor focus on what she
can control, and that is vigorously crosscuting the illegal guns
that people carry. Now, I talked about re repeating the
sit of offenders returning to the street, and although this
(02:09):
is not in her or purview, the low bods, we
have to keep people locked up and not send them
back on the street in low bonds. She was very receptable. Again,
wherever we could agree, we find ways to align and
if we disagree, we just move on and we continue
to build a conversation. All in all, it was a
good discussion.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
And so she was receptive. Then do you think it
was meaningful? I mean, did she did just smile and
nod to get you out of her office or did
do you think there's going to be real actionable items.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Out of this?
Speaker 3 (02:40):
So the important thing is they scheduled a meeting with us,
So that's a complete change.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
That's good.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Last four years we were asked to come to the table.
I asked this simple question. I said, do you think
the current criminal justice system is working? Yes? Or no?
Because honestly, if she thinks it is and I don't
think it is, we're just on two different planets. Said
that she does not believe it's working. So right there,
we have something to come together and we could start
(03:05):
moving forward. This is going to take a lot of people.
It's going to take municipal court come and plea side,
the police department, all our different support groups and the FOP.
We can do this. I think the community is sick
and tired of looking at the news every single day
and seeing another person killed.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Yeah. Amen to that.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Speaking with Brian Steele, president of the Columbus FOP Lodge nine,
I mean, if this guy was put in prison a
year ago on those gun related convictions, this wouldn't have happened.
I mean, these these two Meflin Township cops, I know
one of them is out of is one of them
still in the hospital.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
One of the still in the hospital and he'll be
there for quite some time. We're spending more time caring
about the criminals rights and feelings than we do the
next victims.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Unbelievable. Unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
So well, I appreciate that you actually took that meeting
and spoke your mind, and hopefully we see some real
reform there, you know, with the legal system and the
way we apply sentences and bonds to some of these
bad guy because you know, they get these slabs on
the wrist man and they're going to be right back
out there doing bad stuff. All right, So let's talk
of shift gears and talk about Los Angeles and the
(04:09):
protests there. This is, in my view, not to put
a too fine of a point on it. This is
what happened Los Angeles is what happens when you defund
and disrespect the police.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Brian, listen, I agree. And let me just make clear,
while there are protesters in Los Angeles, what we're seeing
now is not is not a protest. It's a flat
out riot. And there's a difference between lawful and expression
and criminal conduct. And here's the deal with the the officers.
The officers there that are under attacked, they're under attack
for enforcing laws they didn't create. As cops. We're not
(04:41):
policy makers, we're peacekeepers. That's it.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Should probably just end the interview right there. I mean,
that is incredibly well said. You know, and we bring
up the topic and I think you and I mentioned
this last time we spoke of sanctuary cities.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
LA is one of them.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
It's actually, you know, there's more social programs and diversity
hires in Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
I don't know what these people are protesting.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
But sanctuary cities, Why do some cities get to not
follow the law?
Speaker 3 (05:10):
So I think that's going to come to the end.
I met with I was a group of FLP leaders
that met with President Trump last week in the White
House and we talked about that. Basically, he had made
it clear that those days are over. If you're not
going to support the federal government, if you're not going
to assist the federal government when they needed, they're going
to come down part in the cities. Now, what we
(05:31):
don't want to see is the federal government cutting the
local funds to Columbus because that will impact the police.
And that was brought up. So it was made clear
to us that any local government fund that's cut from
the federal government to sanctuary cities, visa e. Columbus, even
though we don't technically don't call ourselves one, he made
sure that the funding would still come to the police.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Yeah, we don't call ourselves one, but we do have
we have adopted sanctuary city policies in the city of Columbus. So,
so your thoughts on the protests, you know, as they
kind of start to pop up around the country.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Thankfully, we had an incident free one last night.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
There's more to come this weekend with a number of
different protests on Saturday. We all remember twenty twenty Bryan,
where local law enforcement they were spin on, they had
bricks thrown on them, they had frozen water bottles thrown
at them in the what we call the Summer of Love.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
I hope we don't get there.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
But how are your folks, your guys and Galip preparing
for this weekend?
Speaker 3 (06:32):
So I think it's important to know that every single
Ulster supports the right to protests peacefully. Violence and vandalism
attacks and Ulsters are never never acceptable. I have concerns
of local readiness. The Judge Marginal Order, which we all know,
which was codified by our local government. It completely limited
our response options. So we have to be equipped to
(06:52):
respond to riots that they arise. And right now I
could not tell you that we're auticqually equipped. We're autically trained,
and it's not the Division of Police's fault. We've got
completely handcuffed following twenty twenty. So I just pray for peace.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I'm right with you, And then it saddens me to
hear that you're a little concerned about the readiness there.
Did you have you witnessed the professional protesters, the professional
rioters where they will drop off a palette of bricks
in a back alley and they communicate with these bad guys.
These aren't people who are on a mission, who have
(07:26):
and I appreciate the passion of some of these folks.
I don't necessarily agree with anything they have to say,
but I appreciate their passion, and like you, I defend
their right to do so. But when it turns violent
and you got these professionals coming in, we saw that
in twenty twenty. We're seeing it in Los Angeles. Now
your thoughts there.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Yeah, the professionals that come in and they are there,
and it's a real thing. Listen, this incident has nothing
to do with immigration. This isn't an immigration issue. This
is anti government. This is pro chaos. The individuals that
come out there, it doesn't matter if it's Black Lives Matter, abortion,
you name the pause, you'll get a handful of these
individuals that just come to seek destruction and chaos.
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