Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump was in New Hampshire Thursday to collect an endorsement from an unlikely group: a labor union.

The New England Police Benevolent Association voted during the appearance to support Trump for president.

‘‘Listen, our message very clear: It’s what is the next president of the United States going to do to unite this country in an effort to save police officers? Because it’s open season on police officers,’’ NEPBA president Jerry Flynn said before the vote, according to the Boston Globe.

‘‘At this point, those of us who are supportive of any party have to look at what is the best interest of our members,’’ he added.

Trump spoke to the crowd of about 150 officers while the executive board voted.

‘‘Police forces throughout the country have had a hard time. A lot of people killed,’’ Trump told the audience.

‘‘I said that one of the first things I’d do in terms of executive order if I win will be sign a strong, strong statement that will go out to the country, out to the world, that anybody killing policemen, police woman, police officer, anybody killing a police officer, death penalty is going to happen, OK,’’ he said he told the executive board his endorsement pitch.

“When you look at what happened in California with those two people who were horrible, radicalized, looking to do tremendous damage and you look at the way police took them on, that was tough stuff, tough stuff,” Trump said of what police did during the San Bernardino terrorist attack.

‘‘You know they’re taking away the military equipment,’’ Trump said, Seacoast Online reports.

‘‘Every time I see a conflict, I see a van pull up, I see an armor-plated Humvee pull up. I see almost a tank in some cases pull up. We’ve got to let our police have the finest equipment and the finest training and if we don’t,’’ he said, ‘‘we’re making a tremendous mistake as a country.’’

Trump added, “I want to tell you that police and law enforcement in this country, I will never, ever let them down — just remember that.”

Union president Jerry Flynn dismissed the protesters outside.

“Those are the same people who stood out in the middle of (Interstate) 93 laying down on the sidewalk saying, ‘Black lives matter,’” Flynn said, according to the Boston Herald. “Well, you know what? Police lives matter — all lives matter — as far as we’re concerned. I’m telling you right now, we endorsed a candidate who best serves our membership.”