State Police union demands Minogue apologize for suggesting troopers traded their Healey endorsement for a good contract

A union representing much of the State Police is demanding gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue apologize for suggesting it traded its endorsement of Governor Maura Healey for a strong union contract.

“Maura Healey, did you cut a deal with the State Troopers for an endorsement as Governor?” Minogue wrote in a Facebook post Saturday featuring an article about the State Police’s reforms for its new class of recruits. “The real reform we need [is] a new kind of Governor.”

The State Police Association of Massachusetts, which represents State Police troopers and sergeants, called Minogue’s claim “categorically false” in a statement on Facebook Sunday, saying: “Our contract was negotiated by the Association’s Bargaining Team and the Commonwealth through a process that included mediation, fact-finding, and arbitration.”

“Accusing our members of corruption without evidence is reckless, and we will not allow their integrity or the contract they earned to be smeared for political gain,” the union continued.

SPAM stands by its endorsement of Governor Maura Healey, the group said.

The union clarified that its new contract includes an 11 percent raise over three years, not 18 percent as Minogue said in his post.

Minogue “should correct his false allegations and apologize to the men and women of the Massachusetts State Police for questioning their integrity and using the contract they earned to score political points,” SPAM said.

Healey’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday night.