Police union leaders endorse Valentine in race for mayor

STAMFORD — Leaders of the Stamford Police Association have endorsed Bobby Valentine in the four-way race for mayor.

The police union’s president, vice president and board of trustees picked the unaffiliated candidate and former Major League Baseball manager over incumbent Mayor David Martin and state Rep. Caroline Simmons, who are set to face each other in a Democratic primary this month, as well as Republican candidate and former city police officer Joe Corsello.

“After evaluating the candidates for mayor, it is clear that Bobby Valentine’s experience and dedication to improving all aspects of Stamford put him far above the others,” Kris Engstrand, the president of the police association, said in a release.

Engstrand told The Stamford Advocate that the decision to endorse Valentine was made unanimously by himself, the union’s vice president and the six members of the board of trustees.

“We are the part of the association that hands out the endorsements based on what we think would be best for our membership,” Engstrand said.

“It is an honor to have the endorsement of our dedicated men and women in uniform, many of whom I've known for decades,” Valentine said in a statement. “I have the utmost respect for their service to our community, and look forward to a productive relationship when I'm mayor.”

The endorsement of Valentine comes weeks after the police union’s leadership slammed Martin for requiring all city employees to be vaccinated or get tested weekly for COVID-19.