Governor Pat Quinn Receives Major Police Endorsement

Press Release

Governor Pat Quinn received the endorsement of the Police Benevolent and Protective Association, a group that advocates for police officers in cities across Illinois. The group said they endorsed Governor Quinn because of his record on creating jobs and managing government responsibly, having inherited historic economic and fiscal crises.

"Governor Quinn understands the challenges that police in Illinois cities face every shift," PBPA President Sean Smoot said. "He understands that we need to work aggressively to keep guns from reaching those who should not have them, and he has shown he'll work to protect law enforcement from disastrous cuts that would make every city across Illinois more dangerous."

Sen. Bill Brady has voted against banning straw purchasers, a source of illegal guns that have contributed to violence in cities across the state. The laws make it illegal to purchase guns in bulk, and sell them to convicted felons, the mentally ill, minors not old enough to legally own guns, or others who cannot legally purchase or possess guns.

"I am proud to receive the endorsement of the Police Benevolent and Protective Association of Illinois. Gov. Quinn said. "I'll continue fighting to ensure that we property fund public safety, and that we enact and enforce reasonable gun laws that to keep guns from those who should not have them."

Founded in 1936, the PB&PA of Illinois is one of the largest state-wide organizations of full time and retired police officers in the United States. The PB&PA of Illinois currently represents over 7,000 active and 3,500 retired police officers across the State of Illinois including officers in the following the cities: Chicago (Sergeants Lieutenants, & Captains), Alton, Aurora, Bloomington, Champaign, Chicago Heights, Danville, Decatur, Elgin, Freeport, Galesburg, Granite City, Jerseyville, Jo Daviess County, Knox County, Madison County, Mattoon, Maywood, Normal, Ottawa, Peoria, Princeton, Quincy, Rockford, Sterling, Waukegan, and many others.

Governor Pat Quinn was sworn into office in January 2009, inheriting a state in fiscal and economic crisis. Since then, he has worked with more than 90 businesses to help them create and save jobs in Illinois, enacted the state's first infrastructure plan in 10 years, creating 439,000 jobs in the next six years, and cut $3 billion in spending from the state's budget, while protecting education and public safety.

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