Rep. Dan Donovan received an endorsement from the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bloomfield.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Rep. Dan Donovan received a third law enforcement endorsement Thursday from the largest police union in New York City.
Donovan is locked in a heated Republican primary race with Michael Grimm, the former congressman.
Patrick Lynch, President of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, said that the union chose to endorse Donovan in the Republican primary race because of his history of supporting police officers.
"[He] knew what New York City police officers need most: Support," said Lynch, whose union represents about 24,000 NYPD officers. "Support at the podium, support on the street, support in legislation, and support when he was district attorney of this great Island."
Lynch added, "He always understood the complexities of what it means to be a New York City police officer. And that support is all important when our job has become more difficult, more complex.
Donovan, standing with the officers at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bloomfield, thanked the officers for their endorsement.
"I thank you for your confidence in my abilities. I thank you for the recognition for the service I've provided for more than 20 years of public service here. You certainly will always have my support," Donovan said. "You have the support of me having the support of a president who recognizes the braveness, the courage, the sacrifices that women and men throughout New York City who wear a blue uniform make everyday."
Donovan also said that he would continue to back legislation to help police officers such as the Thin Blue Line Act and the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
The union support comes less than a week after two court officer unions backed Donovan.
The former Staten Island prosecutor also received an endorsement from President Donald Trump last week and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, now a Trump attorney.
Donovan has also garnered union support from the New York State AFL-CIO, a union with more than 2.5 million workers. The GOP congressman has been endorsed by the Staten Island GOP, the Staten Island Independence Party, New York state Conservative Party and New York state Reform Party.
Grimm, who represented Staten Island in Congress from 2011 to late 2014, resigned after pleading guilty to felony tax fraud. He served seven months in federal prison beginning in 2015.
The primary election is June 26.