The Los Angeles Police Protective League has endorsed Carmen Trutanich in the race for Los Angeles City Attorney.

Trutanich, who lives in Harbor City, is running against L.A. Councilman Jack Weiss in the May 19 runoff.

In its endorsement, league President Paul Weber cited Trutanich's background as a former prosecutor, and took a veiled swipe at Weiss' reputation for being difficult to get along with.

"Los Angeles needs a city attorney who knows how to work well with others and is willing to reexamine how the office spends its money," Weber said.

Weiss, who hails from the Westside, led the field of five candidates in the first round of balloting March 3. He got 36.2 percent of the vote, followed by Trutanich with 27.4 percent. The top two candidates are in a runoff because neither won 50 percent of the vote.

Weiss has the backing of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, police Chief William Bratton, state Treasurer Bill Lockyer, and most of the L.A. City Council. Trutanich's key supporter is District Attorney Steve Cooley.