Public Safety Unions Endorse Kerry/Edwards

Just in case you're standing around the water cooler, y'understand....

"Austin, TX - The National Coalition of Public Safety Officers (NCPSO) today announced their endorsement of United States Senator John Kerry for President of the United States.
“President Bush has misled cops on Homeland Security.  After 9-11, President Bush promised that cops would receive training and equipment to prepare themselves against terrorist’s attacks.  But the facts show front line officers have not received the training and equipment we need to protect the public,” stated Chris McGill, President of the National Coalition of Public Safety Officers and 21 year law enforcement veteran.
“In the event of a terrorist incident, it will be the first responders such as police officers,  fire fighters and EMS personnel on the scene.  It will not be the National Guard and it will certainly will not be President Bush in a flight jacket,” McGill continued, “Without critical homeland security training and equipment for our officers on the front lines of terrorism here in America, we remain unprepared for the next terrorist incident. The tragedy is the Bush administration has misled the American people into believing front line officers have been trained and equipped to fight terrorism in America.”
The National Coalition of Public Safety Officers (NCPSO) represents over 30,000 public safety officers throughout the United States.  NCPSO is the law enforcement division of the Communications Workers of America (CWA)."

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0831f.html

"“As President, I will build a stronger America by standing by police officers and giving them the resources they need to protect our communities,” Kerry said. “I’m honored to receive IBPO’s endorsement today, and I know that together, we’ll work every day to make America safer and more secure. I believe that America should always honor and reward the courage and service of police officers.  And when I’m President, that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
Said IBPO President David Holway, “John Kerry has been a friend of law enforcement officers for nearly thirty years, first as a prosecutor and now as a United States Senator, and the IBPO looks forward to working with him as President. After three and a half years of disappointing leadership under George Bush, we need to change course in November and elect a President with a real record of supporting police officers and a lifetime of standing with law enforcement.”
Kerry has a strong record of standing up for law enforcement and the men and women who protect our communities. He led the fight in the Senate to fund efforts to add 100,000 police officers to our streets and supported the current ban on assault weapons, as well as measures to crack down on armor-piercing, “cop killer,” bullets. As a prosecutor, Kerry put away murderers and mob bosses while building a strong record of being tough on crime."

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0514.html

Speaking to the International Association of Firefighters, a 263,000-member union that has endorsed his candidacy, the four-term Massachusetts senator argued that Bush talks tough on terrorism but has failed to back it up with the financial resources firefighters and other first responders need.
"I do not fault George Bush for doing too much in the war on terror, I believe he's done too little," Kerry said. "I think this administration has it backward. President Bush says we can't afford to fund homeland security. I say we can't afford not to."
Speaking to the firefighters union, which has members in more than 3,500 communities, Kerry said, "Whether it has been providing funding and equipment for firefighters, ensuring that cargo in our ports is screened, guarding our chemical and nuclear facilities, or working with local communities across the country to give them resources they need - this administration has given our homeland security efforts short shrift. You deserve better."

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/news/news_2004_0316.html

"Labor Endorsements for Kerry (a small sample of a longer list)
Air Line Pilots Association
Amalgamated Transit Union
American Federation of Government Employees
American Maritime Officers
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees
Oregon State Fire Fighters Council
International Union of Police Associations (IUPA)
Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union
Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts
Seafarers International Union of North America
Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association
Texas State Association of Fire Fighters
United Transportation Union"

http://www.johnkerry.com/communities/labor/organizations.html