One union is backing Broward sheriff, other voting on his leadership

While one union on Monday voiced its support for embattled Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, another union is in the midst of casting potential “no confidence” votes.

The Federation of Public Employees on Monday announced it had renewed its contract by a vote of 1,111 to 38.

“This is also a vote of confidence in how you treat us and how our bargaining unit feels about you,” the union’s Director Anthony Marciano wrote in a letter to the sheriff.

At 2,500 members, the federation is the largest union representing sheriff ’s office employees, the letter said.

Meanwhile, the 1,300 voters represented by the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association will be voting electronically until Thursday on whether they have faith in Israel’s leadership.

The association announced its intention to seek the “no confidence” vote on Friday.

The organization is a chapter of the International Union of Police Associations and represents 1,050 members and its contract covers 1,300 deputies and sergeants. The vote is open to all of them.

The catalyst for the public show of displeasure was the Parkland school shooting Feb. 14, where a former student opened fire with an assault-style rifle in the freshman building of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, killing 17.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, under orders from Gov. Rick Scott, is investigating how the sheriff’s office and other law enforcement agencies responded to the school. Their findings could be used as the basis to remove Israel from his elected post.