TAMPA. Council member Charlie Miranda said he voted for Mary O’Connor for police chief in April, because “there was no other choice. Was only one man standing in front of me” when he took in vote to confirm her.
Miranda private support former Assistant Chief of Police Butch Delgado, but publicly voiced support for Mayor Jane Castor selection. “I didn’t mean to share city even more. I didn’t mean to do it.”
But news of O’Connor’s resignation on Monday morning left Miranda thinks about baseball. His coach told his players it’s ok to make an error but never mistake. So you miss the ground ball? Error. But you forget how there are many outs with a runner on third? Error.
“That refers to Chief O’Connor,” Miranda said.
Miranda, a staunch ally of Castor, said he was sorry for another dispute. year full of Drama at City Hall. He was joined other council members in expressing such regret.
“It’s sad. It’s really sad,” he said.
Orlando Goodes has a different relationship with Castor, who official documents for re-election a week ago.
Goodes blamed the mayor and her staff of striving destroy his career because he opposed it on Some questions. Castor called for Goodes to step down in April after city the study found he created a hostile work environment for a former assistant Goodes resigned as chairman but challenged Castor and stayed. on advice. Lately, Goodes has appeared on several city events with mayor.
Goodes said he won’t “bash” Castor over her bad choice for chief of police, although he was one of two votes against O’Connor in april advice confirmation vote. And he said that, as a “pious man,” he would not take the opportunity to revel in mayor problems.
“I’m not going to do what they did to me,” Goodes said.
Bill Carlson, other vote against O’Connor wrote his response to news.
“This incident put us in an awkward position. great city in in national as well as international media. Poor decisions like this and current U.S. Department of Civil Rights investigation of Justice undermines our cityx ability to attract investment and best and the brightest entrepreneurs,” Carlson wrote.
He said the mayor should learn from “this mistake” as well as build consensus with “Council and community on important questions.”
Council Member Lynn Hertak, who was appointed to the city council after the resignation of John Dingfelder and who did not have on in board when O’Connor was chosen as chief of police, weighed in by submitting an application.
“It’s a pity that former Police Chief O’Connor decisions led us to this moment. I look like forward to the city council, which has the opportunity to approve new police chief who will continue the renewed focus of the department on community participation and the mental and physical health of officers,” the statement said.
Council Member Luis Viera, who supported Castor on a lot of problems after her election in 2019, said the third largest in Florida city needs to step up this is game.
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“The whole episode was very disappointing. on many levels. Our police officers and residents deserve better,” he wrote.
Viera called for “smooth transition” in choice next police chief.
“Our police and city deserve a process that learns from past and is durable, efficient and responsible – and just as free possible from unnecessary political turbulence,” Viera said.
Council members Guido Maniscalco and Joseph Citro did not immediately respond to a request. for comment Monday.
