As the Senate crawls toward a final showdown on confirming ​Kash Patel, 44, as President Donald J. Trump’s new FBI director, it would be wise to ignore Democrat handwringing and, instead, focus on Patel’s widespread support among those in blue uniforms.

“We are inviting a political disaster if we put Kash Patel into this job,” Sen. Dick Durbin (D–Ill.) trembled.

“This is a guy whose judgment is beyond questionable. It’s appallingly bad,” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D–R.I.) ​shivered. “Mark my words: this Patel guy will come back to haunt you.”

Nearly three-quarters of a million law enforcement personnel beg to differ.

Institutions representing some 680,000 police officers have endorsed ​Patel’s nomination. These include the ​250,000-member National Association of Police Organizations​ and the 370,000-member Fraternal Order of Police. These groups heap praise upon Patel and confirm that his years of professional experience have prepared him well for these major new duties.

• “The National Police Association (NPA) proudly expresses our full support for Kash Patel’s nomination to serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kash Patel’s extensive career in national security, law enforcement, and public service has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law, defending justice, and protecting the American people,” the union announced on Dec. 6. “His experience as Chief of Staff to the Acting Secretary of Defense underscores his readiness to lead with integrity, strategy, and an unyielding focus on national security.”

“We firmly believe that Kash Patel’s appointment as FBI Director will mark a pivotal moment for law enforcement and public safety across the United States. His leadership will bring a renewed focus on collaboration, ethical standards, and the relentless pursuit of justice,” NPA’s statement continued. “We are confident that under his stewardship, the FBI will thrive in its vital mission to protect and serve the American people.”

• “The most effective way to tackle crime and preserve Law and Order is through partnerships at all levels of Law Enforcement,” Thomas Shevlin, president of the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association wrote Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley on Jan. 28. “Mr. Patel has repeatedly proven how he values such partnerships. As a former resident of Nassau County, he understands the needs and difficulties our community is dealing with.”

“His vast experience in multiple levels of law enforcement​ and national security provides the necessary insight and offers a unique perspective on keeping our communities and Nation safe,” continued Shevlin, whose members number more than 5,000. “These qualities will help him serve as a strong and capable leader who can effectively tackle Federal, State, and Local crime.”

• “I am writing to advise you of our support for the nomination of Kashyap (Kash) P. Patel for the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Michael McHale, president of the National Association of Police Organizations, began his Jan. 29 letter to Grassley and Durbin, the Judiciary Committee’s top Democrat. “Mr. Patel’s distinguished career in public service gives him a unique perspective that will only benefit him as FBI Director. From being a public defender to a federal prosecutor to his extensive experience in the realm of counterintelligence, he intimately understands the various aspects of the FBI’s broad mission to keep our nation safe.”
• Mr. Patel’s extensive experience in public service, particularly at the National Security Council and the Department of Justice, makes him an excellent candidate to lead the FBI,” Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association President Louis Civello wrote Grassley on Feb. 3. The representative of over 5,000 Long Island peace officers added: “Mr. Patel’s proven success in tackling complex national security challenges and his strong conviction to follow the rule of law make him the ideal person for this role.​”

“Amazing, thank you so much,” Patel ​responded to this applause from his former stomping grounds. “My hometown means so much.​ Strong Island​.”

Before the Yeas and Nays are called on the question of Kash Patel’s leadership of the FBI, senators should remember that his detractors in the Democrat caucus are in the dozens. Those with badges and bullet-proof vests who back him number in the hundreds of thousands.

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​Deroy Murdock is a Manhattan-based Fox News Contributor.