The Fraternal Order of Police has endorsed former President Donald Trump, citing his promises to enhance public safety and border security.

It’s the third consecutive election cycle in which the organization has backed Mr. Trump and is a blow to the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, who is touting support among police officers as she seeks to convince voters she is tough on crime.

“Public safety and border security will be important issues in the last months of this campaign,” FOP National President Patric Yoes said in a statement. “Our members carefully considered the positions of the candidates on the issues and there was no doubt—zero doubt—as to who they want as our president for the next four years: Donald J. Trump.”

Mr. Trump was to address the FOP on Friday, hours after the endorsement.

Ahead of Mr. Trump’s address to the police group, the Harris campaign released a letter signed by 101 law enforcement officials who endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket and declared she is “the only candidate we trust to keep our communities safe.”

Mr. Trump earned the support of two-thirds of the FOP’s 46 state lodges and 377,000 members, who voted for their preference.

According to FOP officials, an FOP committee “met personally,” with Mr. Trump ahead of the decision, “but no similar meeting was granted by the Harris-Walz campaign.”

The organization credited Mr. Trump with standing by law enforcement in the summer of 2020, when rioting and a “defund the police movement” broke out across the nation after George Floyd died in the custody of police officers who were later convicted of killing him.

The FOP has mostly endorsed Republicans since 1992. The organization endorsed one Democrat, President Bill Clinton, in 1996.

• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.