National Association of Police Organizations endorses Trump

The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) last week endorsed President Donald Trump's reelection bid.

The organization refrained from endorsing a presidential candidate in 2016, and backed the Obama-Biden ticket in 2008 and 2012, according to the Washington Times.

"Our endorsement recognizes your steadfast and very public support for our men and women on the front lines, especially during this time of unfair and inaccurate opprobrium being directed at our members by so many," NAPO President Michael McHale said in a letter to Trump.

The organization "represents more than 1,000 police units and associations, and 241,000 sworn law enforcement officers," according to the letter.

NAPO Executive Director Bill Johnson noted a leftward shift in Biden's positions.

“I think police officers and associations look at Joe Biden today, and it’s hard not to contrast the candidate today with the senator of 15 or 20 years ago,” Johnson said, according to the Washington Times. “Mr. Biden, like a lot of candidates, moved to the left party during the primaries, but once it was clear that he was going to be the nominee, he didn’t stop.”

Tom Scotto, who previously held the NAPO presidency, indicated that he still considers Biden a strong supporter of law enforcement — although, the outlet noted, Scotto said he would like Biden to issue stronger condemnations of attacks against police.

“I find it impossible to believe that Joe’s support for law enforcement has wavered unless he tells me it to my face,” Scotto said, according to the outlet. “There is nobody, but nobody, but nobody in the entire Congress of the United States that has done more for law enforcement than Joe Biden. He’s done more than 20 members of Congress today put together.”

The endorsement comes amid national turmoil surrounding race and policing in the wake of the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minnesota. Video footage showing Floyd, a black man, saying that he could not breathe as a white police officer held his knee on Floyd's neck recently sparked public outrage including calls for police reform and defunding the police.