The Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association (POBA) has endorsed Gov. Phil Murphy and Mayor Steven Fulop for re-election “for restoring trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“We appreciate Governor Murphy’s full contribution to the pension fund and commitment to continuing that progress, as well as the common-sense step of ensuring that experienced law enforcement professionals have a seat at the table when discussing criminal justice reforms,” Jersey City POBA President Det. Joseph Cossolini said in a statement.
“We also applaud the Governor’s leadership in steering our state through this unprecedented public health crisis. Police officers, as well as the community at large, will benefit from his continued leadership, and we are proud to endorse him for reelection.”
The police union, which has over 700 members, said both Murphy and Fulop “prioritized support for police officers across the city” as they fought to restore trust in law enforcement.
On November 2nd, Murphy will square off with former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R), while Fulop takes on young mentor and author Lewis Spears. The Jersey City municipal elections are non-partisan.
“Our New Jersey values have always honored and respected the brave men and women who have taken the oath of service to protect our state,” stated Murphy.
“I share JCPOBA’s commitment to ensuring that Jersey City, and communities across our entire state, continue to be a safe place for families to call home. I’m honored to receive this endorsement and look forward to building on our partnership.”
The endorsement for Murphy came after the governor visited the POBA headquarters at 398 Martin Luther Kind Dr. on Saturday.
Furthermore, Cossolini thanked Fulop for not answering calls to defund the police, noting that he actually hired more officers during this time.
“I would like to thank the Jersey City POBA for supporting our campaign and recognizing the importance of maintaining an open line of communication, trust, and mutual respect between our administration and the officers who work hard every day to keep our city safe,” Fulop stated.
“I’m fully committed to working closely with the JCPD to make our neighborhoods safer, to further improve the relationship between the police and the community, and to ensure that there is greater accountability for both officers and the residents they serve.”
