Police unions overwhelmingly backing Republican candidates

“[Officers] feel the need to step in and let their voices be heard on the issue.” Rep. Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, on the state’s police accountabilty bill

From Greenwich, Stamford and Norwalk to Trumbull, West Haven and Madison, local police unions across the state in recent weeks have endorsed candidates for the state legislature, overwhelmingly favoring Republicans.

Experts’ reactions to the trend have varied: one has said it’s only natural for police unions to endorse candidates and protect their members’ interests, another has speculated that it might not be a savvy political strategy, and yet another contends that endorsements themselves are harmful to democracy.

Endorsements from police associations are nothing new, experts point out. But notable this election season are the language used in some endorsements — which often

cite Connecticut’s police accountability bill as the primary factor in the decision — and the stark split along party lines.

And more and more local police unions are opting to endorse.

Because of the police accountability bill, officers “feel the need to step in and let their voices be heard on the issue,” said state Rep. Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, an opponent of the bill.

Though state police unions often endorse political candidates, Candelora said, local endorsements are a bit more atypical, and “what is unusual is that you’re seeing local law enforcement across the state wholesale endorse a particular party over another.”

The bill

Connecticut’s police accountability bill passed in July amid widespread public demand for police reform – and after the high-profile death of George Floyd while being restrained by police in Minneapolis, which sparked protests nationwide.

The legislation creates a new inspector general’s office to investigate deadly police shootings, allows municipalities to form civilian review boards with subpoena power and requires officers to step in when they witness a coworker using excessive force, among numerous other measures.

One particularly controversial part of the bill, slated to take effect in July 2021, is a provision that will limit when officers can invoke governmental immunity, making it easier for citizens to pursue civil lawsuits against police officers in state court.

Advocates have said lawsuits will only be able to go forward if officers violated someone’s constitutional rights without a goodfaith belief they were following the law, and that municipalities still will be required to indemnify officers unless an officer’s action is found to be intentional and malicious.

But critics of the bill have said the provision could have unintended consequences, discouraging police from doing their jobs out of fear of frivolous lawsuits, according to a report from the New Haven Independent.

Unions react

Some police unions have alleged officers could lose their houses due to litigation.

The bill “is perceived to be devastating to [police officers’] jobs,” Candelora said.

Some resulting political endorsements have used what Michael Lawlor, a criminal justice professor at the University of New Haven and former state legislator, described as “strident” language that vilifies supporters of the bill.

Take a letter from the North Branford police union that endorses Republican Joe LaPorta over incumbent Sen. Christine Cohen, D-Guilford. It says Cohen “chose to ignore the concerns of a community she swore to represent” and “has lost touch with representing everyone in the 12th district.”

Norwalk police Lt. David O’Connor, president of that city’s police union, also issued a strong statement on why the organization decided to endorse Republican candidates.

“Our Union feels the Democratic party used us for photo ops and has taken advantage of our friendships,” he said. “They wrote and