Police unions and associations around the United States are endorsing Donald Trump in this year’s election campaign, citing his support for the police at a time when they are increasingly under attack, portrayed as racist thugs who are victimizing “peaceful” protesters, and whose funding should be slashed or eliminated.
The New York City Police Benevolent Association (PBA), representing 24,000 rank-and-file officers, the New Jersey state PBA, the Florida state PBA, the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA) and the National Union of Police Associations, which includes 100 police units and associations nationwide, have all endorsed the President. Speaking Aug. 14 at Trump’s Bedminster golf course in New Jersey, Pat Lynch, president of the New York City PBA, said that he didn’t remember the PBA ever endorsing a presidential candidate in his 36 years as a cop, but “In the New York City PBA, Mr. President, you’ve earned this endorsement. I’m proud to give it.” He added that Trump’s support for the police was a needed counterweight to city and state officials who had bought into the “false narrative that New York City officers are evil…. Mr. President, we’re fighting for our lives out there. We don’t want this to spread to the rest of the country. We need your strong voice across the country to say we have the support of law enforcement across this country,” Spectrum News NY1 reported him as saying.
