Sarasota-based union to represent Broward deputies

Staff report
Published: Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 1:34 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 1:34 p.m.
SARASOTA - The Sarasota-based International Union of Police Associations will begin representing more than 1,500 Broward County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Oct. 15.

The union will represent the deputies, up to sergeants, in contract and benefits negotiations as well as legal protection on critical incidents, while working to maintain fair and equitable work conditions.

“The deputies spoke, and it is clear that they want the fairness, transparency and expert advocacy that IUPA can and will provide,” said Jeff Bell, president of the new Broward County organization.

The IUPA, originally chartered in 1979, already represents more than 100,000 law enforcement personnel at agencies around the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Rich Roberts, IUPA spokesman, said the addition of Broward County is significant to the organization’s Florida operations.

“Broward deputies are one of the largest sheriff’s offices in the entire state,” Roberts said. “We’ve got a substantial presence in Florida.”

Though IUPA has headquarters in Sarasota, Roberts said the association had more presence on Florida’s east coast. It does not represent union members at the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office or Sarasota Police Department.

“We don’t aggressively go in and try to organize a department unless we are invited in by some of the officers,” Roberts said. “The minute they approach us, they’ve got a whole support.”

IUPA contact Jeff Edmiston 941-350-9170