City Police Vote To Join Union

BROOKSVILLE - The Brooksville Police Department has a union.

With a 6-5 vote and four officers not voting, the department founded its fraternal order of police chapter Thursday and will fall under the auspices of the Pinellas County Police Benevolent Association.

They are now eligible to begin contract negotiations with the city.

Police Chief George Turner said he had no thoughts pro or con before the vote and his position still stands after the vote. Turner said he was a longstanding member with his department in New York, but not with his more recent post in Long Boat Key.

Sgt. Ed Serrano, the city's full-time traffic cop, cast a dissenting vote.

He saw no reason to need representation.

"I thought things were going along well," he said.

Serrano wasn't sure who in the department initiated talks with Tallahassee to get the process going or what motivated the decision.

He believes it was some of the newer officers in the force.

"I don't know what their problem was," he said.