Trump wins endorsement of largest police union in US
US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has won the endorsement of the nation’s largest police union known for its unconditional backing of police officers involved in use of brutal force against minorities.
The Fraternal Order of Police (FOB) declared its endorsement of Trump in a Friday statement, lauding what it described as “commitment” to American police officers and their priorities, local media outlets reported on Saturday.
In announcing FOB’s support for the Republican nominee, its national president, Chuck Canterbury, also dismissed the refusal of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to seek the endorsement of the controversial group dominated by white police officers.
“Obviously, this is an unusual election,” said Canterbury. “We have a candidate who declined to seek an endorsement and a candidate without any record as an elected official. Mr. Trump, however, has seriously looked at the issues facing law enforcement today. He understands and supports our priorities and our members believe he will make America safe again.”
According to Canterbury, over two-thirds of FOB’s National Board representing the groups more than 330,000 members “acquainted themselves with Mr. Trump’s answers to our survey. He took the time off the campaign trail and met with us to talk about our issues, our priorities.”
"He's made a real commitment to America's law enforcement and we're proud to make a commitment to him and his campaign by endorsing his candidacy today," he added.
The development came as US police forces across the nation have been widely criticized for persisting killing of unarmed African Americans and their long history of use of brutal force against blacks and other minorities, prompting the establishment of the nationwide Black Lives Matter movement, which demands police reform across the country.
This is while Trump associated political activists and protesters with rioters and looters during a televised August speech on “law and order” saying, “Our job is not to make life more comfortable for the rioter, the looter, (and) the violent disruptor.”
He also suggested that people calling for police reform are doing so because they are in violation of the law and seek to weaken the ability of police officers.
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