Disaster on our hands

So what now? What does Bell expect to come from this no-confidence vote?

“I expect the citizens to start voicing their opinions up to the governor’s office,” he said.

He also wants deputies to tell the governor: “Governor, you need to listen to us. If you’re going to make a decision, or if you’re on the fence about which side you should go to, you need to take us into consideration.

“The leadership of this agency is only there for political reasons … and if you lost the faith of the men and women on the streets, you’re going to have disaster on your hands. And this will turn into Chicago and Detroit and cities like that, where crime is completely out of control.

“If another incident happens, this will be on the hands of Governor Scott, not on the men and women of this agency.”

This is scary stuff. Bell’s language sounds more threatening, than cautionary. He insists BSO deputies will uphold their oath to protect and serve. But we hear a dangerous subtext.

What would it take to heal this rift between the sheriff and his deputies?

Bell said the union met recently with BSO command staff about improving labor relations “and we walked out of the room saying they didn’t hear anything we just said.

“So at that point, change is the only thing that can happen to improve the working relationship between the deputy and whomever is at the head of the sheriff ’s office.”

It’s alarming to hear the union chief say the only path forward is for the governor to boot the sheriff. It’s also concerning to hear deputies don’t want to carry devices meant to de-escalate the use of force.