NYPD union backs Trump for the next election
The union stayed neutral during the 2016 election.
On Friday, in a first-time-ever move, the New York City Police Benevolent Association, which represents over 50,000 active and retired New York City Police Officers, according to their Twitter page, endorsed Donald Trump for president.
Amid the city’s rising crime rate and conflicts between police and protesters, the NYPD is lockstep with Trump’s “law and order” platform, according to the New York Post.
At an event with Trump in his Bedminster, New Jersey club, Pat Lynch, the PBA president told the crowd, “I cannot remember when we’ve ever endorsed for the president of the United States until now–that’s how important this is. We need your strong voice across the country.”
Although the union stayed neutral during the 2016 election, Lynch criticized New York City and New York state for passing laws that ban chokeholds, and increasing scrutiny surrounding the disciplinary records of police officers.
READ MORE: NYPD officer charged with using banned chokehold
Trump during the speech, Trump condemned democrats for waging a “left-wing war on cops.” Former mayor Rudy Giuliani joined Trump on stage and also accused Mayor Bill de Blasio of instigating a “crusade against the police.”
“We have to bring law and order back to our cities, back to our country,” Trump said.
At one point during the speech, Trump invited the police officers in attendance to vote on a derogatory nickname for presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden. He suggested “Sleepy Joe” or “Slow Joe,” and the police in attendance yelled louder for “Sleepy Joe.”
READ MORE: Protesters injured by police before Trump photo-op testify: ‘It hurts’
“We’re going to give New York a real shot,” Trump promised the crowd. “I think we have a real chance in winning New York,” he added.
Later Friday night in a Twitter post, Trump accepted the endorsement and vowed to never let the NYPD down.
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