LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association is pleased to announce its endorsement of Antonio Villaraigosa for California governor and Dr. Ed Hernandez for lieutenant governor.

“LAAPOA supports Antonio Villaraigosa for governor because he has a proven track record of backing law enforcement officers and prioritizing public safety,” says LAAPOA President Marshall McClain. “He kept those promises as mayor of Los Angeles, expanding the city police force by more than a thousand and our airport police force by over 20%. This, plus his support for anti-gang programs for at-risk youth, led to a nearly 50% reduction in violent crime. We are confident that he will remain focused on making public safety a top priority as the next governor of California.

“During his tenure in public office, Senator Hernandez has also shown himself to be a champion of safe neighborhoods, working hard to ensure that peace officers and other first responders have the resources we need to do our jobs,” McClain continues. “He has fought to preserve our hard-earned benefits and pledged to continue that fight as lieutenant governor.”

In this time of manifold challenges and dangers for law enforcement, choosing leaders who understand and stand up for our concerns is key to protecting communities statewide. LAAPOA joins its allies in the Peace Officers Research Association (PORAC) and other law enforcement groups statewide in endorsing Villaraigosa and Hernandez.