Union members support Richard Del Toro against current sheriff

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

7 4 minutes read

PORT ST. LUCIE — For the first time in its two-decade history, the union representing St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office deputies has endorsed someone outside the department's ranks in a race against a sitting sheriff.

Before more than 50 people gathered at Babalu's Cuban Café Monday evening, St. Lucie County Deputies Association board members introduced Republican candidate and current Port St. Lucie Acting Police Chief , Richard Del Toro, with the approval of the union.

This follows at least one equally historic endorsement in this race. Prosecutor Tom Bakkedahl, who did not support any candidate in previous elections, also supported Del Toro.

Union workers support Del Toro against their boss

About three-quarters of the union's voting members supported Del Toro, according to Vice President Tina Speaker, over other candidates, including their current boss, Sheriff Keith Pearson. Another Republican, Preston Michael DiFrancesco, is also in the running. The winner of the August 20 Republican primary will face a Democrat in the general election, with three candidates currently active: Steven Giordano, Indony Pierre Jean Baptiste and Gerald Newburry.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Pearson in December to replace former Sheriff Ken Mascara, a Democrat. A former lieutenant, Pearson ran for sheriff just days after his appointment. As a Republic, Pearson's filing gave Del Toro a de facto primary challenger.

Union members represent approximately 40% of the office's deputies, according to President Melvin Goycochea.

“As the Board of Directors of the St. Lucie County Deputies Association, we are on a mission to do one thing and one thing only. That is for the members to be heard. The members have spoken, and that is why we are here,” Goycochea said.

Although executive council members were reluctant to discuss the details of their opposition to Pearson, the endorsement, read aloud by the president, explained support for Del Toro.

“During your tenure as Port St. Lucie Police Chief, you have demonstrated strong leadership skills and unwavering integrity, morals and ethics,” it reads. read in the framed approval. “We believe these qualities, combined with your commitment to public safety, make you the ideal candidate for the position of sheriff.”

Goycochea then declared himself “very confident” that Del Toro, if elected, will be able to obtain the support of union members who voted for other candidates.

Historic union support

Del Toro said the historic approval gave him clarity on his schedule.

“The fact that they’re supporting me, in historic support like this, there’s no other place I’d rather be,” Del Toro said Monday at the restaurant.

The son of a former local police union president, Del Toro describes himself as coming from a “very pro-union background.” Before becoming interim chief, he was a member of the Port St. Lucie Police Department union. The officers' union had previously supported him.

Shortly after Pearson's nomination, the deputies' union gave Del Toro the maximum donation of $1,000. Del Toro said that gives him confidence that approval is possible. Del Toro hopes the support he saw in lawmakers' union vote will be a sign of his fate with voters.

In an email sent Tuesday, Pearson noted that he was DeSantis' choice for the job.

“The only support I'm looking for is people who want a pragmatic, call it like it is, locking up the bad guys in the sheriff – which is what I do every day,” Pearson said.

Del Toro goes on the attack

While much of Del Toro's speech Monday focused on his experience and mission of servant leadership, he discussed his main primary opponent, whom he called the “acting sheriff.”

Some comments appeared to reference Pearson's viral TikTok videos, some of which featured suspects in handcuffs. Del Toro promised to be “tough on crime” but also said he would ensure people were treated with “dignity.”

“No one is bigger than our organization, including the sheriff. This office does not belong to the elected or appointed person. It belongs to the people of this community. It belongs to the deputies,” Del Toro said. “Unfortunately, in my opinion, it has become a self-promoting clown show over the last six months, and it gives law enforcement a bad name.”

Other mentions

In addition to local unions, the president of the Sarasota-based International Union of Police Associations, Sam Cabral, was present at the ceremony. The broader organization said DeSantis did not consult it or the St. Lucie County Deputies Association before Pearson's nomination.

Del Toro also touts support from the Broward County Police Benevolent Association, the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association, the Hispanic Political Action Committee, the National Association of Police Organizations and the St. Lucie County Republican Party. Many of these endorsements were obtained before Pearson's appointment, but he retained his support, including that of the county party, whose leadership heavily criticized Pearson.

More:Find out who is giving money to each candidate in a costly St. Lucie County sheriff election

More:SLCSO deputy fired days after arrest for battery, falsifying official statement

As for Pearson, whose signs say he is “Governor DeSantis' Pick,” he does not have an active campaign website listing endorsements. Nor does it list any on the Supervisor of Elections website, where candidates can post their bios.

In a March 26 Facebook post announcing he had gathered enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, Pearson told voters: “The only endorsement I need right now is yours.” » In the same message, Pearson thanked DeSantis and Mascara, although neither of them officially endorsed the race.

Wicker Perlis is TCPalm's watchdog reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at [email protected] and 504-331-0516.

Lina Portman

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