Maryland Fraternal Order of Police endorses Larry Hogan for U.S. Senate

On Wednesday, October 2, U.S. Senate candidate Larry Hogan received the endorsement of the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police (MDFOP).

“Governor. Hogan has consistently been a strong voice in support of law enforcement officers in Maryland and across the country,” MDFOP President Clyde Boatwright said during a press conference.

Boatwright noted Hogan’s support for law enforcement, adding that the former Maryland governor has pushed for resources, training and benefits for police officers.

“The members of the Fraternal Order Police look forward to having Larry Hogan as an ally in the United States Senate to ensure our active and retired law enforcement officers have the support we need to serve our great state of Maryland and beyond and to protect him “America,” Boatwright said.

In 2021, when Hogan was governor of Maryland, he launched the Re-fund the Police initiative in response to the De-fund the Police movement. The goal of this $150,000 campaign was to provide more resources to law enforcement and strengthen police departments.

“When calls arose to defund the police, I was the first elected leader in the country to speak out forcefully against it,” Hogan said.

The U.S. Senate candidate commented on the recent increase in juvenile crime in cities across the state, adding that his administration has “fought against pro-crime policies that now allow juvenile offenders to wreak havoc in our communities.”

These policies have upended our justice system, placed leniency over accountability, and put innocent lives in our communities at risk. These juvenile justice laws are dangerous and must be repealed, said Hogan.

Responding to ongoing debate over Maryland Department of Juvenile Services policies, Hogan argued that the state’s juvenile delinquency law must be repealed. “The fact that we cannot arrest violent youth for violent crimes needs to be addressed,” Hogan said.

The former governor criticized his opponent, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.

“The choice in this U.S. Senate election couldn’t possibly be clearer. Under my opponent, crime in Prince George’s County is out of control,” Hogan said. “My opponent not only welcomed the calls to defund the police, she put them into action by cutting funding for the police in Prince George’s County.”

In 2021, the Alsobrooks administration cut public safety funding by 2%, a cut of $21.5 million, while investing in the county’s education and health infrastructure.

If elected as a U.S. senator, Hogan will launch a crime plan that implements the federal Refund the Police initiative and the Safe to Learn Act, a law he signed into law in 2018 The Maryland Center for School Safety creates statewide standards for school safety and increased resources for this purpose.

“My plan also calls for more federal prosecutors to help dismantle organized crime and ensure that violent criminals are not only arrested, but held accountable and taken off our streets,” Hogan said.

The candidate also promised to protect the border and dismantle drug cartels.

With me. Maryland law enforcement, the men and women who stand behind me, will have a true friend in the United States Senate. You have an open door and a seat at the table. And I will be a tireless advocate, fighting for law enforcement and for all Marylanders who care about public safety,” Hogan concluded.