When we talk about the Office of the Ohio Attorney General, we often use big ideas like protecting the Constitution or upholding the law. But the job comes down to something simple.

Public safety does not happen on its own. It depends on people who put on a badge and run toward danger when others run away.

My vision for this office is simple: If you have our backs, the attorney general must have yours.

Supporting law enforcement isn’t just politics. It is how we keep our communities safe. When officers have what they need, families are better protected.

Today, officers face growing risks and harsh criticism. I will lead from the front and make sure they have the tools, training and respect they need to do their jobs.

For me, this is personal. My father was a police officer. I remember what it felt like when he was late getting home. The uncertainty and the questions you do not ask out loud stayed with me.

That experience shaped how I see public safety. It is why I have spent my career backing law enforcement. I know what families carry every day.

Service is not just a word — it can mean an empty seat at the table or a missed Little League game.

Ohioans felt the weight of that sacrifice deeply in 2025. We lost five heroes who gave everything for our safety: Trooper Nicholas Cayton, Officer John M. Radabaugh, Officer Phillip Wagner, Deputy Sheriff Daniel Sherrer and Special Deputy Larry Henderson Jr. It is critical that we honor them not just with memorials, but by ensuring their deaths were not in vain.

My record reflects my conviction. Throughout my time in the Statehouse and as auditor, I haven’t just talked about “backing the blue”, I’ve acted on it:

● Strengthening criminal sentencing: I co-sponsored House Bill 38 to ensure that those who target first responders face the most severe consequences our justice system can impose. It sent a clear message: Violence against our protectors will not be tolerated.

● Modern tools to fight modern crime: I co-sponsored House Bill 597 to give local agencies the authority they need to hunt down scammers and tech-based criminals. As crime evolves, our laws must evolve with it.

As your attorney general, I will ensure the Bureau of Criminal Investigation is the gold standard of providing resources and expertise for local law enforcement agencies.

At a time when antipolice narratives are amplified and trust is being intentionally undermined; we need a top cop who won’t flinch.

As we reflect on National Police Week and the blue lights that glowed in windows across Ohio just last week, we should remember that these symbols matter, but they are not enough. Supporting law enforcement cannot be something we do for only one week each May.

We must carry that same gratitude and commitment throughout the entire year.

We must support the officers still on duty with mental health resources, proper equipment and clear legal backing so they can return home safely.

We owe it to those we have lost and those still serving to do more than offer words once a year. They deserve support every day.

There is a thin line between order and chaos, held together by the bravery of a few. As attorney general, my support will not be seasonal or simply a campaign slogan.

I will be a permanent fixture in their corner, challenging the “defund” movements that threaten our neighborhoods and advocating for the funding that keeps our officers and communities safe.

Ohio cannot afford a leader who waits to see which way the wind blows.

We need a leader who knows that strong communities depend on strong, supported police departments. I am ready to lead that charge.

Keith Faber is auditor of the state of Ohio and is running for Ohio attorney general.