The New Bedford police union, the largest in Bristol County, has unanimously endorsed Sam Sutter in his bid to unseat incumbent Paul Walsh Jr. as district attorney.

`` The members of the New Bedford police union recognize that it is time for a change,'' union president Leonard Baillargeon wrote to Sutter.

Baillargeon said Sutter, a Fall River defense lawyer and former assistant district attorney in Walsh's office, has the experience `` integrity, fairness, and vision'' to `` restore commitment, energy and focus back'' to the district attorney's office.

Walsh, who is facing his first primary opponent since he was elected 16 years ago, was endorsed by the police union when he challenged then Bristol County District Attorney Ronald Pina.

Walsh could not be reached by The Sun Chronicle for comment Friday. But he told The New Bedford Standard Times Thursday that he was told by some union members that only 20 to 25 members in the 279-member union voted. Sutter, who worked as an assistant district attorney for six years in Attleboro District Court and New Bedford Superior Court, says the endorsement `` is the most important event in the campaign so far.''

`` For them to endorse me unanimously says something very serious about their confidence in me and the lack of confidence in him,'' Sutter said.