The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)-Chicago Lodge 7 has endorsed 19th Ward Ald. Matt O’Shea for the upcoming Feb. 26 municipal election.

The FOP represents thousands of active and retired officers of the Chicago Police Department.

“I am honored and humbled to be endorsed by FOP Lodge 7 in my re-election as alderman of the 19th Ward,” said O’Shea. “The job of being a police officer is incredibly challenging, and our officers need the support of the community and elected officials. I will continue to support our police officers and to help the Chicago Police Department to provide officers the resources they need.”

According to O’Shea’s campaign office, since he became alderman, crime in the 19th Ward has dropped, including aggravated batteries, burglaries, motor vehicle thefts, violent crime and property crime.

Each February, O’Shea hosts a community pancake breakfast and several local school fundraisers to support the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation’s “Get Behind the Vest” initiative. Since it began in 2015, the pancake breakfast has donated more than $100,000 to Get Behind the Vest, which purchases new bulletproof vests for Chicago police officers.

O’Shea serves on the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation Advisory Board and the Chicago Police Chaplains Ministry Board of Directors. He represents the 19th Ward neighborhoods of Beverly, Morgan Park and Mt. Greenwood, where thousands of first responders reside.

O’Shea has been a lifelong resident of the 19th Ward. In addition to being alderman, O’Shea is president of Special Olympics Chicago/Special Children’s Charities. He is a member of the John McNicholas Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Board of Directors, serves in an advisory capacity for the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences Advisory Board and the Chicago Says No More Steering Committee.

He also founded the 19th Ward Youth Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that supports and hosts a variety of safe, healthy and educational youth programs.

For more information on O’Shea’s re-election campaign, visit the website at mattoshea.net.