Crime & Safety

Oath Keepers Find Success Recruiting Active Duty Police: Report

An investigation by NPR found police officers in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities are active in the extremist group.

People wearing hats and patches indicating they are part of Oath Keepers attend a rally at Freedom Plaza in support of then-President Donald Trump. Active duty police officers are increasingly becoming affiliated with the extremist group.
People wearing hats and patches indicating they are part of Oath Keepers attend a rally at Freedom Plaza in support of then-President Donald Trump. Active duty police officers are increasingly becoming affiliated with the extremist group. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

ACROSS AMERICA — The far-right extremist group Oath Keepers has found some success recruiting active-duty police officers in major cities across the United States, according to an investigation conducted by National Public Radio and WNYC/Gothamist.

Leaked organizational records reportedly show the group's membership rosters include the names of police officers from cities such as New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago, NPR reported.

Experts say the findings are "reason for concern," according to NPR, since the far-right group encourages members to uphold the law only as they interpret it; however, departments that may try to regulate participation in the group could violate officers' free speech and free assembly rights.

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