International Courant
The Arizona Police Affiliation (APA) turned heads not too long ago by endorsing liberal Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego in Arizona’s U.S. Senate race, regardless of Gallego’s controversial historical past on regulation enforcement points and the APA’s simultaneous assist of former President Donald Trump.
“Congressman Gallego has regularly fought for strong, elevated funding for America’s Legislation Enforcement, and particularly Arizona Legislation enforcement,” the APA mentioned in an announcement Monday, arguing that Gallego helped safe $168 billion in “direct assist of cops in order that they’ve the personnel and gear wanted.”
The transfer to again the Democrat over Republican Kari Lake comes regardless of the group endorsing Lake’s bid for governor over the last election cycle and simply days after it introduced its endorsement of Trump within the presidential race.
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US Senate candidate Kari Lake speaks throughout a marketing campaign rally of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on the Desert Diamond Enviornment in Glendale, Arizona, August 23, 2024. (Picture by Olivier TOURON / AFP) (Picture by OLIVIER TOURON/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
“As a Marine fight veteran, we all know Congressman Gallego understands the complexities of recent policing in American society in the present day, whereas on the identical time recognizing the general public’s expectations,” APA President Justin Harris mentioned in an announcement posted to X.
“I’m proud to have the APA’s assist and stay up for working with them within the Senate to make sure Arizona’s regulation enforcement officers have the assets essential to fight fentanyl trafficking, prepare the subsequent technology of officers, and, above all, preserve Arizona households secure,” Gallego mentioned in an announcement hooked up to the APA launch.
The transfer additionally comes as Gallego’s file on police points has come below elevated scrutiny, together with an Arizona Solar Instances report final week that detailed the lawmaker’s file and statements on regulation enforcement.
In a single occasion detailed by the report, Gallego argued for restrictions on police use of sure weapons as a result of they “don’t know the right way to use” them in a “secure method.” In one other occasion, he posted on social media about his effort to limit police departments from with the ability to entry navy gear.
U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake speaks throughout Day 2 of the Republican Nationwide Conference on the Fiserv Discussion board in Milwaukee on July 16, 2024. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)
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The report additionally detailed Gallego’s historical past of social media posts in assist of Black Lives Matter within the aftermath of George Floyd’s loss of life in 2020, together with one submit through which he argued that protesters “aren’t the dangerous man” and that “the dangerous guys had been the one behind the police line.”
“Signing main reforms into regulation & reworking the tradition of regulation enforcement stays a matter of life & loss of life, particularly for Black communities,” the Arizona lawmaker mentioned in a separate submit on the one-year anniversary of Floyd’s loss of life. “We can’t cease preventing for racial justice.”
The APA’s choice was blasted by Lake’s marketing campaign, which has made public security a centerpiece of the race in Arizona.
“Ruben Gallego supported defunding the police and vilified regulation enforcement whereas serving in Congress,” a Lake spokesperson advised Fox Information Digital. “He helps open borders and is weak on crime. Kari Lake will at all times again the blue and assist regulation enforcement and secure communities.”
Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. (in poor health Clark/CQ-Roll Name, Inc by way of Getty Photographs)
Nonetheless, the APA opted to again Gallego, noting his assist for laws such because the Make investments to Defend Act and Enhancing COPS Hiring Program Grants for Native Legislation Enforcement Act.
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“The APA doesn’t take our endorsements calmly; we acknowledge the significance of getting a U.S. senator that may carry individuals collectively to enhance society for all,” he added. “We consider Congressman Gallego can be that U.S. Senator.”
When reached for remark, a spokesperson for Gallego referred Fox Information Digital to the lawmaker’s assertion within the APA launch. The APA didn’t instantly reply to a Fox Information Digital request for remark.
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Michael Lee is a author for Fox Information. Previous to becoming a member of Fox Information, Michael labored for the Washington Examiner, Bongino.com, and Unbiased America. He has coated politics for greater than eight years.
