St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick with his wife, Kendall, at an event in 2024. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
Published on February 17, 2025 at 12:44 pm
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The Florida Fraternal Order of Police is accusing the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office of trying to stifle efforts to unionize deputies.
Shortly after deputies announced they would hold a vote on forming a union, Sheriff Rob Hardwick informed deputies by email that they would be required to attend one of several meetings.
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“We want you to enter into this decision with all your questions answered,” Hardwick said in the email obtained by the Fraternal Order of Police. “Therefore, several mandatory briefings will be hosted by myself and General Counsel (Matthew Daniel) Cline for every person eligible to vote.”
The Fraternal Order of Police says those meetings run afoul of rules the National Labor Relations Board set to ensure fair outcomes in union elections.
A spokesperson for the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office says the general counsel has advised the agency not to comment about the matter.
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Union voting is scheduled to begin Thursday.
Florida Fraternal Order of Police President Shawn Dunlap says forming a union would give deputies more power to ask for higher wages and better working conditions.
“For too long, the voices of the frontline deputies, corporals and sergeants have been unheard when it comes to decisions that directly impact their safety, job security, and financial well-being,” Dunlap said in a statement last week. “By joining together, we can ensure that our concerns are addressed and that we have a formal seat at the table when discussing our future.”
The Florida Fraternal Order of Police represents organized sheriff’s deputies across 100 agencies by way of legal and other support like stepping in when they believe a law enforcement officer has been wrongfully terminated.
