Police Unions: McMahon's The Man for Congress; Court Officers Also Endorse
By TOMMY HALLISSEY
All five NYPD unions and the state Court Officers Association Sept. 24 endorsed City Councilman Michael McMahon for a Staten Island congressional seat, citing his advocacy for law-enforcement needs including improved bulletproof vests for the NYPD.

MICHAEL McMAHON: Law-enforcement unions' choice.

The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, the Detectives Endowment Association, the Captains Endowment Association, the Lieutenants Benevolent Association, the Sergeants Benevolent Association and the Court Officers Association made a joint announcement of their backing of the Democratic candidate for the seat being relinquished by U.S. Rep. Vito Fossella.

'A Strong Voice for Cops'

"Mike McMahon has always been a strong voice for his city's police officers, and the PBA is proud to endorse him for Congress," said PBA President Patrick J. Lynch. "From fighting for our personal safety to fighting for his constituents' safety by pushing for more precincts on Staten Island, Mike McMahon understands the needs of police officers, and knows the importance of making sure we have the tools to keep New Yorkers safe. I'm proud to say that he's the best man for the job in Congress."

Court Officers Association President Dennis Quirk said, "When Staten Island's population boomed, and needed more officers to keep the streets safe, Mike McMahon was there to make sure that New Yorkers had the protection they needed to stay safe. When we've needed him, Mike McMahon has been there for law-enforcement officers. I'm honored to be there for him now."

Mr. McMahon, who has also been endorsed by the New York Times and the Staten Island Advance, said, "New York City's law-enforcement officers are on the front lines every day, fighting for the safety of our citizens, and protecting our way of life. I've been proud to fight for their needs on the City Council, and I'll continue that fight in Washington to ensure that all our law-enforcement officers have the resources they need to keep us safe. I'm grateful to have their endorsement, and promise to honor it by advocating for our brave officers in Congress."

Mr. McMahon has advocated for medical funding for first responders sickened by their work at Ground Zero, and he has worked to ensure that law-enforcement officers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan who collected both military pay and their city salaries were given ample time to repay what they owed when they returned home.

Cites Backing for Zadroga Act

Captains union President Roy T. Richter said, "The members of the CEA are happy to endorse a candidate who strongly supports passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, an act that provides much needed financing for the medical treatment of those emergency workers who responded to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In many cases, the dramatic health effects and cancers attributed to exposure to the toxins at Ground Zero are just beginning to be known. Mike McMahon shares our belief that the heroes that came to our aid should not be forgotten by our government."

During the Democratic primary, Councilman McMahon received the backing of the Uniformed Firefighters Association and the Uniformed Fire Officers Association in the primary.

The general election will be held Nov. 4.