Police unions endorse GOP state Senate candidate

The North Branford police union has endorsed Republican state Senate candidate Joe LaPorta with a statement that heavily criticize his opponent, incumbent Sen. Christine Cohen, D-Guilford, over her support of Connecticut’s police accountability bill.

Madison’s police union is also endorsing LaPorta with a letter that does not mention Cohen but calls the bill “an attack on community policing and our own due process and collective bargaining rights.”

In response to the endorsements, Cohen has pointed to a past record of supporting legislation beneficial to law enforcement agencies. She also said she’s working to improve the accountability bill going forward.

The North Branford statement contends that LaPorta is the best choice “for the safety of your family, law enforcement and everyone in the community” and accuses Cohen of ignoring constituents’ concerns in voting for the bill.

“While it is very uncommon for the North Branford Police Union to get involved in the political arena, the members of this police union feel Christine Cohen chose to ignore the concerns of the community she swore to represent,” it said.

But the senator says she listened to many perspectives when considering the legislation.

Even though the bill has passed, Cohen is still speaking with police chiefs to see how it can be adjusted, she said Monday.

“I hope that everybody will come to the table in the future as the judiciary committee works to make the changes that are appropriate in this case,” she said. Cohen has always considered herself a friend of law enforcement, she said, adding that she has worked to pass legislation that helped departments get reimbursed for body camera purchases as well as legislation allowing officers diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder to apply for workers’ compensation.

In the police accountability bill, Cohen believes lawmakers managed to come up with a compromise.

“This bill was borne out of a large outcry from the general public, you know, demanding police accountability.” Cohen said Monday. “I really did what I could to listen to both sides. ... I hold law enforcement officers to a really high standard, and I obviously have the utmost respect from them.”

Supporting the bill has led to intense backlash for Cohen, who said in July she received threatening messages over her stance.

The bill, signed into law that month, mandates body cameras, creates a new inspector general’s office to investigate deadly police shootings and requires officers to step in when they witness a coworker using excessive force, among other measures.

One of the most controversial parts of the bill is a provision slated to take effect in July 2021 that will eliminate qualified immunity for officers, making it easier for citizens to pursue civil lawsuits against police in state court.

In a statement Monday, LaPorta expressed his belief that the police accountability bill “will negatively impact the safety of our state.”

Officer Gregory Martin, president of the Madison Police Union, said it’s the first time he remembers the union endorsing a candidate during his 13 years with the group.

His endorsement letter said LaPorta “would be the kind of leader who advocates for the men and women behind the badge” and “who will fight to give us the resources we need (rather than take them away).”

LaPorta also received an endorsement from the Connecticut State Fraternal Order of Police.

“You have been a long standing friend of law enforcement. There is no question in our mind that you will continue to support law enforcement and keep the people of your district safe,” the endorsement letter said.

The letter ends by urging citizens to vote for LaPorta. It was signed by Danbury police Sgt. John Krupinsky, the president of the order.

Krupinsky spoke highly of the candidate when asked for comment Tuesday.

“The bottom line is, we need to put people in Hartford that are going to do the right thing for the safety of not just the citizens but of the police,” he said. “I believe [LaPorta] is that candidate.”

LaPorta was “honored” to receive the endorsements, which “[show] that this election is not just about voting for someone who will work to make Connecticut more affordable, but also about upholding the rule of law in our state and protecting public safety,” he said.

The candidate has made the bill a sticking point of his campaign.

“Senator Cohen voted to make it more difficult for law enforcement to do their job to protect and serve, enabling criminals to get more brazen,” he said in one Facebook post in August.

Cohen indicated she will continue to work with the police unions regardless of whether or not they endorsed her.

“Regardless of whether or not I’ve been endorsed ... I’m committed to working with them now and in the future,” Cohen said. “I’m disappointed that they … feel that perhaps I have not represented them according to their best interests.”

Cohen is working with state Rep. Vincent Candelora, RNorth Branford, to help North Branford secure state funding for a new police station, she said.

The North Branford Police Union also endorsed Candelora, who voted against the police accountability bill, for another term representing the 86th House District, according to its statement.

Candelora feels having both a Democratic governor and legislature has led to less deliberation in passing legislation, he said, adding that many police chiefs felt their voices weren’t heard by lawmakers in the case of the police accountability bill.

“This bill in particular was very emotional, and it was rushed,” he said. “Hopefully we can fix [it].”

LaPorta

Cohen