Boston - At a press conference in Dorchester today, a coalition of ten law enforcement organizations endorsed Scott Brown for reelection. Several organizations cited Brown’s support for Secure Communities as a key reason for extending their endorsement. Secure Communities is an information sharing program that helps local and federal officials identify and deport the most violent illegal immigrants. The program was implemented across Massachusetts earlier this year. Elizabeth Warren opposes Secure Communities, which is backed by the Obama Administration.The organizations that endorsed Scott Brown today are: Boston Police Superior Officers Federation, Fraternal Order of Police, Commissioned Officers Association of the Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Police Association, Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association, Worcester Police Patrolman’s Union, Massachusetts Municipal Police Coalition, MBTA Police Sergeants Association, MBTA Police Patrolmen’s Association, New England Police Benevolent Association.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
William Walsh, Treasurer of the Boston Police Superior Officers Federation and co-chair of the Law Enforcement for Brown Coalition: “What you see before you today with this array of police labor groups united is unprecedented in my 31 years. We have never seen labor groups and the police labor world unite behind a candidate as we see united behind Scott Brown. Massachusetts needs Senator Brown to continue to reach across the aisle to Democrats, forge relationships, and get things done for working families in Massachusetts. Washington badly needs common sense and Massachusetts needs Scott Brown to continue to help deliver that for us and our families. Thank you.”
Scott Brown: “Well thank you very much. I know we were here a couple of days ago and it’s my honor not only to work with each and every one of you but to help represent your interests, give you the tools and resources you need to do your jobs, do them well, and have all your brothers and sisters in arms literally come home safely. As you know, as I said, it is unprecedented to get from management all the way down to the patrolmen and everybody in between to stand together in one room and endorse me, and I’m so very very thankful.
One of the main reasons I as heard throughout, I said ‘Why? Why are you going to endorse me again or endorse me for the first time?” Across the board they said “Scott it was your support obviously of Secure Communities that was really a very important tool we needed not only to keep our citizens safe but obviously keep ourselves safe.” That’s a huge difference between Professor Warren and me. I agree with the President and Secretary Napolitano, worked very very hard with a lot of the people behind me and others that aren’t here to actually get Secure Communities implemented.”
