Police Union Endorses Mark Begich

Today the Anchorage Police Department Employee Association (APDEA) endorsed Mark Begich for US Senate. The union represents more than 500 public safety employees.

At a news conference, APDEA President Everett Robbins said the union has never endorsed a candidate in the U.S. Senate race, but did so this time because of Begich's long-standing commitment to public safety.

"I have always believed that you do not measure a person by what they say, but rather by what they accomplish," Robbins said. "What Mark Begich has accomplished in our community speaks for itself."

"Over the past five years as mayor, we've increased the public safety budget every year to make sure those people doing the job have the resources they need to keep our citizens safe," Begich said in reacting to the endorsement. "I also appreciate the fact that the APDEA historically has not endorsed a candidate in the U.S. Senate race, but felt this race was so important they wanted to make a statement of support."

Robbins cited the increase of dozens of police officers in Anchorage during Begich's tenure as mayor. He added that programs such as Community Action Policing, expanding the Traffic Unit, and increasing the number of detectives and patrol officers on the force have all made a key difference for the city.

Robbins said another reason behind the endorsement is Begich's support for the Police Officers Bill of Rights and for the repeal of federal legislation that penalizes social security benefits for public employees who have a public pension.