Boston Mayor Michelle Wu responded to criticism she received after giving her condolences to the family of a person police say was wielding a knife when he was shot and killed by an off-duty officer.

Wu has won their backing after successful contract negotiations. The endorsement comes as the mayor prepares to testify in Washington over what Republican legislators call the city's "sanctuary" policies.

The city’s largest police union, the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, plans to formally endorse Mayor Michelle Wu later this week in her re-election bid, according to two sources close to the matter.