Editor,

I have concerns about the endorsement of a political candidate by Police Officers. A portion of an advertisement appearing in The Evening Sun on Aug. 28, 2012 states, “Joe McBride has been endorsed for County Court Judge by: • Joe Angelino, Norwich City Police Chief • Ernie Cutting, Chenango County Sheriff.”

“In 1983, the Legislature enacted and the Governor signed Chapter 215 of the Laws of 1983. That Chapter permits police officers to become involved in political activities. The New York State Board of Elections is of the opinion that the political rights of a police officer have been expanded and that a police officer as a private citizen may now endorse a political candidate as long as the endorsement is not given in such a manner as to coerce or intimidate a voter to vote for a particular candidate. The act of endorsing, in and of itself, is not a violation of subdivision 1 of section 17-110 of the Election Law. It is the opinion of the Board that there would be no violation of section 17-110(1) of the Election Law if a police officer acting as a private citizen was to direct his or her endorsement of a candidate to the public as a whole by appearing on television, making a tape for radio, or is pictured or quoted in the press supporting a candidate of his or her choice.”

http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/download/law/Opinions12042009.pdf