Long Island Republican politician Bruce Blakeman has pledged to pardon former NYPD Sergeant Erik Duran if elected governor, challenging incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul in the November election.

Duran, a former NYPD officer known as the "cooler cop," has been convicted on charges that have not been specified in available reports. The case has drawn attention from law enforcement advocacy groups who characterize it as an example of justice system failures.

A defense fund has been established for Duran while he remains incarcerated. The Sergeants Benevolent Association has launched the fundraising effort, with officials stating their support for law enforcement officers facing legal challenges.

"Let's show the nation that law enforcement officers support one another, especially when our justice system fails them," said Vallelong, a representative of the SBA, in a statement posted on the organization's website.

The case has become a political issue in the gubernatorial race, with Blakeman using it to appeal to law enforcement supporters and critics of the current administration's criminal justice policies.

Blakeman's pardon promise represents one of his campaign commitments as he seeks to unseat Hochul in what is expected to be a competitive statewide race.