Evans Receives D.C. Police Union Endorsement

Council member Jack Evans, who is currently unchallenged in his reelection bid for the Ward 2 District Council seat, received the endorsement of the D.C. Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).

, bowed out of the race amid and an organized by Evans.

The D.C. FOP police union represents more than 3,500 police officers, detectives, and sergeants of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.

In , the FOP's President Kristopher Baumann said, “FOP’s main concerns are public safety, open government and financial responsibility."

The full endorsement is below:

The Fraternal Order of Police, Metropolitan Police Department Labor Committee (FOP) has announced its endorsement of Jack Evans for Ward 2 councilmember for the Council of the District of Columbia. The FOP is the police union that represents the more than 3,500 police officers, detectives, and sergeants of the Metropolitan Police Department.

On November 29, 2011, the FOP Executive Council voted unanimously to endorse Councilmember Evans for reelection. In issuing the endorsement FOP Chairman Kristopher Baumann stated: "Jack Evans is the only member of the D.C. Council who is serious about public safety. He has aggressively moved for tougher criminal laws, fought against the reduction in police officers, and consistently responded to his constituents’ concerns about crime. Mr. Evans has proven that the safety and well-being of this city and its residents are his number one priority.”

Chairman Baumann added: "Mr. Evans has not only worked to keep this city safe through legislation, he actively responds to the public safety concerns of his constituents. I have been at the community meetings with Mr. Evans where the anger over crime and violence has been at center stage. There is no one better at honestly confronting and addressing those issues than Jack Evans. There is no double talk, no empty promises – just facts, the truth, and a commitment to fight to make the District safer. A commitment Mr. Evans has consistently honored."

According to the FBI crime numbers, overall crime in the District has increased from 2006 to 2010, the opposite of national trends. Even though homicides are down, property crimes are up city-wide and certain neighborhoods continue to struggle with unacceptable levels of violence. Not coincidentally, despite having an authorized force of 4,200 officers, the Metropolitan Police Department is on the brink of falling below 3,800 sworn police officers – a staffing level that has been described as unacceptable and dangerous. Without Jack Evans, those numbers would be far worse.

Chairman Baumann noted that: “Jack Evans is the lone member of the Council that has focused on the dwindling number of police officers and rising crime. Mr. Evans understands that one of the core functions of government is to protect its citizens. Safe, peaceful communities bring prosperity and encourage long-term investment and stability. I think very few people understand how much Jack has done to keep this city safe, especially given the open hostility towards tough-on-crime legislation demonstrated by other councilmembers.”