The Minneapolis police union is selling a "Cops for Trump" T-shirt ahead of President Donald Trump's rally in Minnesota's largest city later this week.
Lt. Bob Kroll, president of the Police Officers Federation, posted a photograph of the shirt on his Facebook page on Saturday, WCCO-TV reports, but the post has since been removed.
The shirts sell for $20 each, with proceeds going to benefit charities sponsored by the union.
Kroll's action comes after Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo announced a new policy barring off-duty officers from appearing in uniform during political rallies or while endorsing candidates.
Arradondo disclosed the new policy on Sept. 26, hours after President Trump announced his rally on Thursday at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
Mayor Jacob Frey also said that Trump was unwelcome in the city, StarTribune.com reports.
Kroll ripped the policy change as politically motivated.
"It was kept completely secret from us," he told WCCO. "We believe it infringes upon the federation's rights to have influence in the political process, and let them know where our federation stands and who our federation endorses."
Frey told the station that the decision removes politics from police work.
"Politics and the work of the Minneapolis Police Department are separate," he said. "They are individuals within our department, certainly have a First Amendment right to support whichever party or whatever individual they choose."
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