PARAMUS – Political rhetoric tends to be simple.

Here it is when it comes to public safety:

Republicans support the “blue” and safe communities; Democrats not so much.

Notwithstanding that generality, more than a dozen state troopers convened Tuesday afternoon to back the reelection of Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer.

Explained Wayne Blanchard, the president of the State Troopers Fraternal Association of New Jersey:

Elected officials, regardless of party, bring their own agenda, their own portfolio with them. And he said that “Josh from day one,” has been a supporter of law enforcement and public safety.

“Josh has not just said that, he’s proven it,” Blanchard added.

Gottheimer, who has represented CD-5 ranging across northern New Jersey for eight years, estimated that he has delivered about $65 million in grants to police and for public safety in general.

That includes money for bulletproof vests, fire equipment and many other police needs.

“You have to invest, you can’t defund,” Gottheimer said.

That, of course, raised the most recent issue that has caused political problems for many Democrats. The “Defund the Police” movement that surfaced after the killing of George Floyd in 2020.

Gottheimer, who is not normally in line with his party’s left wing, never embraced that mantra.

Blanchard seemed to notice, reminding the crowd that Gottheimer “stood up to his own caucus by the way.”

The congressman and the troopers acknowledged that the criticism of law enforcement has had a negative impact – it’s become harder to recruit police officers.

Saying that work has to be done in that regard, Gottheimer said he hopes to win reelection and get a seat on the House’s bipartisan law enforcement caucus. He would replace the late Bill Pascrell on that body.

The locale for today’s event was the IBEW union hall, a popular spot for Bergen County Democratic gatherings.

Gottheimer praised the troopers association as good union men and women, adding that Democrats traditionally have done a better job than Republicans in supporting union interests.

Democrats have about a 50,000 voter-registration advantage in CD-5, making Gottheimer the favorite for reelection. The Republican candidate is Mary Jo Guinchard.