News

Presidents and officers representing law enforcement across the Hudson Valley, New York City, and New York State stood with Lawler in Rockland County to formally announce their support.

Haverstraw, NY — August 17, 2026… Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) was joined Monday morning in Rockland County by presidents and leaders of police unions from across the Hudson Valley, New York City, and New York State, as eleven law enforcement organizations announced their endorsement of his campaign for reelection, representing over 80,000 law enforcement officers statewide, including:

• Rockland County PBA – President Sean O’Connor
• Police Conference of New York – President Mike O’Mara
• Port Authority PBA – President Frank Conti, First Vice President Michael Mollahan, and Financial Secretary Brian Ahern
• Port Authority Sergeants Benevolent Association – Second Vice President Andrew Caruso
• Haverstraw PBA – First Vice President Michael Lupo and Sergeant Pete Connolly
• Carmel PBA – President Vincent Serio
• Carmel LBA – President Mike Bodo
• Westchester County Correction Superior Officers Association – President Peter DiChiara
• New York State Supreme Court Officers Association – President Patrick Cullen
• Sergeants Benevolent Association of New York City – Treasurer Ed Geary
• New York State Fraternal Order of Police – Zone One Vice President Enrique Pabon

“I grew up here in Rockland County. I know what it means to live in a community where the police are part of the neighborhood, where they coach the teams, know the families, and show up for people on the worst day of their lives. These are the men and women who run toward danger when everyone else runs away, and they are the reason Rockland, Putnam, Westchester, and Dutchess counties remain among the safest places in America to live and raise a family. That happens because of the people standing behind me,” said Congressman Mike Lawler.

“On behalf of the Rockland County PBA, it is my honor to offer our full support and endorsement of your campaign to Congress in New York’s 17th District. We proudly give Congressman Lawler our endorsement, not because of the party he represents, but because of what he has done for police officers, both in office and in his professional life. When it comes to policing and public safety, our decisions are not driven by party affiliation. They are based on the individual, their record, and their commitment to those who serve and protect Rockland County,” said Rockland County PBA President Sean O’Connor.

“The Police Conference of New York represents police officers from the tip of Long Island to Buffalo and up to the Canadian border, including New York City, and at our May meeting we unanimously endorsed Mike Lawler in his reelection campaign for Congress. We’ve known Mike since he was an Assemblyman. He spoke up for us, he called out hypocrisy, and he used common sense. I’m also a constituent, and I appreciate that he puts my family before felons. He always, always, always stands with our police officers, and we will do anything in our power to help him get back into Congress to represent not only the members of his district, but police officers statewide,” said Police Conference of New York President Mike O’Mara.

The endorsements come eight days before cooperation agreements between a dozen New York law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities are set to be torn up under Albany’s new sanctuary law.

“Cait Conley just accepted the endorsement of the Working Families Party, the party that has called for defunding the police and abolishing ICE, and she said she was ‘excited’ to be working alongside them. Meanwhile, Albany Democrats passed the so-called Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, which bars local police from cooperating with federal immigration authorities and threatens to strip state law enforcement funding from any department that refuses to comply. On August 25, cooperation agreements at a dozen law enforcement agencies across ten counties will be torn up under that law,” continued Lawler. “I have a simple question for Cait Conley: will you call on Albany to repeal its sanctuary law, yes or no? The men and women on this stage deserve an answer, and so does every family in this district.”

“This election is a choice. You can stand with the people who protect our communities, or you can stand with a party that wants to defund them. I made my choice a long time ago, and I will never apologize for backing the blue,” concluded Lawler. “I want to thank the men and women of law enforcement for this endorsement, and I will work every day to keep your support and your respect.”

Video of the press conference is available HERE.

Photos of the press conference are available HERE.

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