FOP endorses Fitzpatrick for Congress in hot Bucks race

Citing his "extensive background in law enforcement," the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police on Thursday endorsed Republican Brian Fitzpatrick for a U.S. House seat in a race that has drawn national attention.

"I promise you I will work to ensure that federal, state, and local law enforcement will have the tools they need to keep us safe," Fitzpatrick said in accepting the endorsement at the Bucks County FOP lodge in Wycombe.

About two dozen FOP members attended the event, one of the few public appearances Fitzpatrick has made during the general election campaign. A former FBI special agent, Fitzpatrick has sought to play up his law enforcement background.

"Brian's work has sought to make us safe," said Bob Bray, a FOP member. "That is something we can all respect."

Fitzpatrick pledged Thursday to work on the opioid-abuse epidemic and said strengthening collaboration among law enforcement entities is a priority.

Afterward, Fitzpatrick attended a question-and-answer session with FOP members, but declined to take questions from reporters.

The Eighth District, which covers a portion of Montgomery County and all of Bucks County, is viewed as the state's hottest House race. National Democrats are hoping State Rep. Steve Santarsiero will flip it blue, while Republicans have pinned hopes on Fitzpatrick, the brother of Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, who holds the seat now and is retiring due to a self-imposed term limit.

Fitzpatrick, who left the FBI post to run for office, has styled himself as a political outsider.

Also on Thursday, Santarsiero became one of 19 congressional candidates who won endorsements from Americans for Responsible Solutions, a group pushing for tougher gun laws and founded by former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

The group, which based its endorsements on questionnaires sent to candidates, hopes to seek help in passing laws such as expanded background checks.

Santarsiero has a long record in the legislature of supporting background checks, while Fitzpatrick "has worked every way to avoid the issue," said Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D., N.M.), chairman of the Democratic congressional campaign arm.

His committee pointed to an audio recording, released by Democrats with little context, in which Fitzpatrick tells a listener "criminals are not going to obey gun laws" - an argument often made in opposition to proposals to tighten such laws.

Fitzpatrick has said he would vote for the Toomey-Manchin gun bill if changes to it were made. His spokesman did not elaborate on the candidate's position Thursday.

Santarsiero is the only House candidate in the Philadelphia area the group has endorsed.

A debate between the candidates is scheduled for Oct. 13 at 12:15 p.m. at the Lower Bucks Campus of Bucks County Community College.

jmcdaniel@philly.com

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@McDanielJustine

Staff writer Jonathan Tamari contributed to this article.