Contact: Press@TammyBaldwin.com
MADISON — The Wisconsin Professional Police Association (WPPA) today announced the endorsement of U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin in her reelection campaign.
“Every day, Wisconsin’s law enforcement officers risk their lives to keep our communities safe, and Tammy Baldwin has proven that she has our backs,” said Jim Palmer, Executive Director of Wisconsin Professional Police Association. “Tammy Baldwin is a champion and valued friend of our law enforcement community because of her bipartisan work to make sure we have the funding we need to hire and train more officers, the safety equipment necessary to protect our lives, the support to better combat the opioid crisis, the quality health care every officer deserves, and the right to negotiate fair pay for those who put their lives on the line.”
“Every Wisconsinite deserves to live in a safe and secure community, and I am honored to have the support of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association,” said U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin. “Together, we’re pushing Washington to work for Wisconsin’s law enforcement officers so that they have the tools and resources they need to combat the opioid epidemic, protect our neighborhoods and keep Wisconsinites safe.”
Founded in 1932, the WPPA represents over 10,000 members from nearly 300 local association affiliates, making it Wisconsin’s largest law enforcement group. WPPA Executive Director Jim Palmer also currently serves on the executive board of the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO).
The WPPA takes a non-partisan approach to assessing legislation that affects public safety and impacts law enforcement officers. Both of the 2018 WPPA Legislators of the Year are Republicans currently serving in the state legislature.
Tammy Baldwin has received the WPPA endorsement in the U.S. Senate race for her bipartisan leadership in:
- Securing Funding to Hire and Train Officers: As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Tammy Baldwin has secured millions for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program and Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne-JAG), passing the bill out of committee.
- Increasing Federal Support for Safety Equipment: Tammy Baldwin successfully increased the funding set for next year’s federal Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) program, which has already equipped American public safety officers with over one million vests, passing the bills out of committee.
- Empowering Law Enforcement to Better Combat Opioid Crisis: Tammy Baldwin helped pass bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate to increase funding for local prevention programs, prevent the flow of fentanyl into America and enhance enforcement programs, including the Drug Free Communities program, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, the Drug Courts program, and the COPS Anti-Methamphetamine and Anti-Heroin programs.
- Standing Up for Quality Health Care Plans: Joining with Republicans and Democrats, Tammy Baldwin has supported bipartisan plans to repeal the “Cadillac tax” on quality health care plans negotiated by police officers across the country.
- Protecting the Right to Negotiate Better Wages: Tammy Baldwin authored the Public Safety Employer Employee Cooperation Act, which would give officers a stronger voice to improve working conditions and get the resources they need to most effectively serve the public. Tammy’s bill is supported by the WPPA, as well as the Milwaukee Police Association, Wisconsin Law Enforcement Association, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), and International Union of Police Association (IUPA).
