Florida Sheriff Loses No-Confidence Votes Over Coronavirus

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Two unions representing Broward County sheriff's deputies and officers have overwhelmingly slapped Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony with separate no-confidence votes over his handling of the new coronavirus and the suspension of a union president days after that official publicly criticized the sheriff.

“I want to say to the deputies, 'I hear your concerns,'" Tony said in an statement following Monday's announcement of the union votes. "My commitment is unwavering and our mission remains clear. It’s time to unite and work together to continue providing the highest level of professional public safety services to our Broward County community.”

The vote by Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association Local 6020 was 693-93, or about 88 percent of the union's 1,200 eligible deputies and sergeants.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 32, which represents the agency's lieutenants, reported that 85 percent of its members who participated also voted overwhelmingly to support a similar no-confidence measure, although the exact vote tallies were not released.

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Former Sheriff Scott Israel received a no-confidence vote from the deputies association two years ago over his handling of the Parkland school massacre. Israel was subsequently replaced by Tony as one of the first acts of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Both Tony and Israel are among a field of candidates now vying for the elected sheriff's office in the 2020 election.

"This is a symbolic vote. We know nothing happens right here today, but the voice of our members were heard," said Frank Voudy, secretary-treasurer of the deputies union, at a news conference following the vote.

Union President Jeff Bell was suspended after criticizing Tony's handling of the agency's coronavirus response regarding personal protective equipment.

"Our position is that’s why he was suspended, because of him being a voice and being an advocate for the members," Voudy said.

Voudy did not know if the union leadership would request Tony's suspension by the governor, who appointed him.

"It took a really long time for the PPE equipment to start rolling out to the deputies," Voudy said Monday. "Do we have it today? Yes, we have it today. I was actually personally issued my PPE kit today. I was personally issued a mask the week of March 22. The stuff slowly started to roll out to the districts only when we became vocal about it."

Voudy also pointed to Tony's handling of unspecified internal affairs investigations as reason for the vote, as well as an incident in which he said Tony spoke to deputies in a harsh manner.

"It was a culmination of events. It was some behavior of the sheriff online through social media that was inappropriate," Voudy said. "We also had him recently yelling and berating deputies behind the North Broward Hospital when they were getting ready to have a procession for one of our deputies who had passed away. He took that moment of time to yell and berate deputies. He did it again at the funeral home."

Tony said in his statement that he and his command staff have "worked tirelessly" to keep the men and women of his agency safe during the pandemic.

"We have established procedures to limit exposure to COVID-19 in all areas of operations and have worked to give all of the BSO family the necessary tools to protect themselves as we continue to protect the community,” Tony said.