Police union's leaders endorse Dougherty bid
The city's police union yesterday announced that its board of directors had voted to endorse electricians' union leader John J. Dougherty in next month's primary race for the State Senate's First District. "He's the one candidate out of the three that knows what city police need - that's more cops on the street and tougher gun laws," said Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 president John J. McNesby. "He's the man to do it. He's an activist and a natural leader."
Dougherty is running for the Democratic nomination, facing Center City lawyer Larry Farnese and activist Anne Dicker.
In a separate action, the board also voted to oppose Mayor Nutter's effort to seek a charter change to allow up to 10 appointed deputy commissioners per city department. Currently, the police commissioner and other commissioners can appoint only two. The FOP is supportive of the idea but objects to the specifics of the proposal, which would allow four of the 10 appointments to come from outside the Police Department.
McNesby said all 10 should be filled from within the department. The FOP represents 14,000 active and retired Philadelphia police officers.
- Sam Wood and Marcia Gelbart
