Police, fire unions back Passero for New London mayor
New London — Democratic mayoral candidate Michael Passero has scheduled a news conference for Sept. 10 to formally accept endorsements from both the local police and fire department unions: New London Police Union AFSCME Local 724 and New London Firefighter Union IAFF Local 1522.
The event will start at 5 p.m. on upper parade plaza at 33 State St. The heads of both unions are expected to explain their support for Passero.
From a police perspective, local police union president Todd Lynch called Passero “the one person we’ve been able to count on over the last four years.”
“He knows what it’s like to have a job in public safety where you leave your house every day not knowing if you’re coming home or not,” Lynch said.
Passero, endorsed by the Democrat Town Committee, is facing a challenge from incumbent Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio.
“It has been going on four years under Mayor Finizio’s leadership, or lack thereof,” Lynch said. “At the police department we’ve watched 34 people leave under the current administration. They didn’t leave to sunny beaches in Florida. They left to take their abilities in law enforcement to other law enforcement jobs.”
Lynch said the exodus of officers has cost taxpayers money and has strained remaining officers who have stayed.
“We also we believe (Finizio) is the single most important person who can unite the community with the police department,” Lynch said. “Instead, he has driven a wedge between police and the community, especially the minority community, for his own political gain.”
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