A nonpartisan police leadership organization, which highlights that it is the only national law enforcement advocacy group to endorse political candidates, has weighed in on the 2024 presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
The group, Police Leaders for Community Safety, announced its endorsement of Harris, in a statement shared first with Fox News on Monday. The organization, comprised of a diverse group of prominent police professionals who have led various national law enforcement leadership bodies, is dedicated to advancing “policies to make communities and the people in them safer, improve and evolve policing, and safeguard the rule of law.”
This endorsement gives Harris the backing of a major law enforcement organization following Trump’s recent endorsement from the National Fraternal Order of Police, the country’s largest police union. Earlier this year, Trump also secured support from the International Union of Police Associations and the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO).
Sue Riseling, chair of Police Leaders for Community Safety, said the endorsement reflects Harris’ “track record and unwavering commitment to public safety and the rule of law.”
David Mahoney, a board member and former Dane County sheriff, praised Harris’ prosecutorial career, stating that she “spent her career protecting people, supporting victims, and holding accountable those who have harmed others and betrayed the public trust.”
Rick Myers, board vice chair and a former police chief in several states, added that while many politicians claim to be tough on crime, few have the “courage to do what is right to keep us safe.” He emphasized that Harris is a leader who will protect both the Second Amendment and the country from gun violence.
Crime remains a major concern for American voters despite a decline in many crime categories nationwide. Trump has accused Harris of being soft on crime during her time as a prosecutor, blaming her for ongoing crime problems in San Francisco. Trump advocates for more aggressive policing, reduced federal oversight, and increased military equipment for local police.
Harris, on the other hand, has highlighted Trump’s legal controversies, including his status as the first former or sitting president convicted of a felony. She argues that Trump has been antagonistic toward law enforcement agencies investigating him.
Harris also emphasizes the Biden-Harris administration’s support for law enforcement through pandemic relief funding and advocates for stronger federal oversight with less military equipment for police departments.
Harris campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez noted that Harris has taken a “tough and smart approach” to crime, while also working to make the criminal justice system more equitable, particularly for communities of color. Rodriguez contrasted Harris’ record with Trump’s, stating that this election is a choice between “someone who spent her career enforcing the rule of law and someone who has been convicted of breaking them.”
The Harris campaign points out that this endorsement follows support from 100 law enforcement officials, including officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as well as backing from over 700 national security officials.
