Oregon police officers endorse Merkley

Oregon House Speaker and U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) wrapped up an endorsement from the Oregon State Police Officers Association Thursday.

"Jeff Merkley has always fought to keep our children and families safe from crime by ensuring that law enforcement have the resources they need to do their job," said Jeff Leighty, president of the OSPOA. "Oregon needs a proven public safety leader to change the way things work in Washington D.C.”

Merkley recently released a proposal for what he would do for public safety if he was elected to Washington D.C. His plan included adding 50,000 police officers around the country, and addressed the growing methamphetamine problem around the country. Merkley said that he hoped he would be given the opportunity to make those plans happen.

"In the U.S. Senate I will not rest until our law enforcement have the tools and resources they need to protect our children and our families," Merkley said.

Merkley has also received support from other public safety officials, including outgoing Attorney General Hardy Meyers and the presumptive candidate to replace Meyers, John Kroger, who is both the Democratic and Republican nominee.

Kroger appeared with Merkley and 5th Congressional District nominee State Sen. Kurt Schrader (D-Canby) at a town hall meeting in Oregon City on July 29, and said he looked forward to working with Merkley to increase public safety.

“Jeff is committed to getting us more police officers, something Gordon Smith has not supported,” Kroger said. “We need help at the federal level, and Jeff Merkley can deliver on that.”