Today, the Massachusetts Municipal Police Coalition (MMPC) gave its official endorsement to U.S. Senator Scott Brown’s campaign for reelection to the United States Senate. The MMPC is a voluntary coalition of municipal police unions representing more than 1,500 police officers in communities around greater Boston.
“The MMPC is confident that Senator Brown will continue his support of the collective bargaining process and working families in Massachusetts,” said MPCC President Harry MacGilvray. “We were particularly impressed with Senator Brown’s efforts to have the Secure Communities Initiative put in place in Massachusetts. Senator Brown has supported the men and women of law enforcement since he was a Selectman in Wrentham; our members sincerely hope he is there for us for a full six-year term in the Senate.”
“The interests of law enforcement have always been near and dear to my heart and I am honored to have the support of a respected organization such as the MMPC,” said Senator Brown. “To have earned the confidence of your members means a great deal to me and I sincerely hope to be able to continue advocating for you in the U.S. Senate.”
The following unions make up the MMPC:
Arlington Police Patrolmen’s Association
Arlington Police Ranking Officer’s Association
Belmont Police Patrolmen’s Organization
Belmont Police Superior Officer’s Association
Burlington Police Command Officer’s Union
Cambridge Police Patrol Officer’s Association
Cambridge Police Superior Officer’s Association
Framingham Police Officer’s Union
Hanover Police Union
Lawrence Police Superior Officer’s Association
Lexington Police Association
Malden Police Patrolman’s Association
Medford Police Patrolmen’s Association
Medford Police Superior Officer’s Association
Natick Patrol Officers Association
Needham Police Union
Newton Police Association
Quincy Police Patrol Officers Association
Quincy Police Superior Officer’s Association
Somerville Police Employees Association
Somerville Police Superior Officer’s Association
Watertown Police Association
Wayland Police Officer’s Union
Police Officers of Westport Alliance
Weston Police Officer’s and Sergeants
SECURE COMMUNITIES: Senator Brown pushed Governor Patrick and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano to implement Secure Communities in Massachusetts following several high profile incidents in which Massachusetts residents were killed or harmed by illegal aliens with criminal records. Secure Communities will ensure that federal authorities share information from local law enforcement to locate and detain illegal aliens with criminal records. Secure Communities was successfully activated in Massachusetts on May 15, 2012.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT: Brown co-sponsored and voted for the Leahy-Crapo Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) (S. 1925), which provides critical funding to law enforcement in Massachusetts. S. 1925 is supported by the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association. Brown has been a leading voice in the Senate for VAWA reauthorization.
LAW ENFORCEMENT GRANTS: Brown has strongly supported Massachusetts law enforcement applications for federal grant funding. Brown has supported approximately 20 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants, including in Worcester, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, and Boston. These grants allow hiring and retention of police officers, often in cities or towns that are facing large budget cuts. Brown has successfully advocated for Massachusetts first responder’s requests for Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), which allow for the purchase of new equipment, and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response for Firefighter (SAFER) grants. Brown has written letters of support for nearly 40 AFG applications and nearly 20 SAFER applications. Brown was also an original co-sponsor of the bipartisan Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2011 (S. 550).
SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS: Brown was the only Republican senator to join an appropriations funding letter in support of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. Brown joined a bipartisan appropriations letter that sought funding for the Byrne JAG Program, which is a cornerstone crime-fighting program that supports the federal government’s role in spurring innovation across the criminal justice system. The letter noted that recent cuts to Byrne JAG “have a direct and serious impact in [states like Massachusetts].”
NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION ACT: Brown crossed the aisle to support an amendment that would create a National Criminal Justice Commission to evaluate all areas of the U.S. criminal justice system. The underlying bill is supported by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police.
MURDER OF WOMAN AND HER SON IN BROCKTON: Brown joined District Attorney Tim Cruz in pressuring Ecuador to return Luis Guaman, who is accused of the brutal murder of a Brockton woman and her two year old son. Brown worked with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Ecuador’s Ambassador to the U.S. in seeking Guaman’s return. Guaman was convicted of the murders in Ecuador, but Brown continues to push for his return so that Guaman can stand trial in Massachusetts.
STOPPING HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Senator Brown is the lead Republican sponsor of the bipartisan Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPA) of 2011 (S.1301). TVPA is the U.S. Government’s central tool to fight against human trafficking and provides resources to law enforcement to end the scourge of human trafficking in our communities.
