Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump vowed on Thursday to issue an executive order that would mandate the death penalty for anyone convicted of killing a police officer.
"One of the first things I'd do in terms of executive orders, if I win, will be to sign a strong, strong statement that will go out to the country, out to the world, that anybody killing a policeman, a policewoman, a police officer, anybody killing a police officer: Death penalty is going to happen, OK?" said Trump, The New York Times reported.
Trump was speaking to a New Hampshire crowd hosted by the New England Police Benevolent Association, a union with members from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, shortly after the group voted to endorse Trump. Ahead of the rally, Trump answered questions, agreed to push for the death penalty and said he would find more funding for training during a private meeting with union leaders, according to The Washington Post.
“I want to let you know, the police and law enforcement in this country, I will never ever let them down,” Trump said, reported The Hill. He added: "The job they do and the job all you in this room do is second to none, and everyone in our country knows that."
The New England Police Benevolent Association is particularly sympathetic to Trump's message. In September, Jerry Flynn, the executive director of the union, called for officers to boycott a Labor Day speech in Boston by President Barack Obama, accusing the president of doing nothing as officers were attacked.
"We’re talking about an epidemic and the President of the United States has blood on his hands," said Flynn, according to UPI.
Following the rally, Trump backed up his position, telling the media, "We can't worry about being politically correct," CBS reported. "We just can't afford anymore to be so politically correct."
Trump did not provide details on how the executive order he proposed would work, given the growing number of governors and state legislatures that have banned the use of the death penalty.
