The Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs (WACOPS) and the Law Enforcement Administrators of Washington (LAW) have endorsed U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, for a sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

These endorsements come only a few weeks after Congressman Larsen received the endorsement of the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association.

WACOPS represents about 4,500 uniformed officers in Washington state. LAW represents about 250 Washington police chiefs and sheriffs. The Washington State Patrol Troopers Association represents more than 1,100 troopers, detectives, and sergeants throughout the state.

“During these tough economic times, we cannot afford to shortchange our local law enforcement,” Larsen said in a press release. “I am working hard to protect jobs in our local police forces and make sure they have the tools they need to fight crime and keep our communities safe.”

As co-chairman of the House Meth Caucus, Larsen worked to pass the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act, which made it more difficult for meth producers to get the ingredients they need to make the drug. This legislation helped local law enforcement reduce the number of meth labs in Washington state communities by over 75 percent, according to his campaign.

Larsen has also backed legislation that would strengthen the highly-successful Community Oriented Policing (COPS) program has helped local law enforcement hire more than 100,000 police officers nationwide.