Nez Perce County sheriff says no confidence vote by union ‘doesn’t mean anything to me’
The Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office union issued a vote of no confidence in Sheriff Joe Rodriguez this week.
In a statement, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 32 – which represents sheriff’s office employees and bargains for wages with county government – said 32 of its 38 members issued ballots indicating no confidence in Rodriguez. One union member’s vote was “no opinion.”
A no-confidence vote essentially operates as a public notification that a leading figure of an agency is deemed unfit for the position by employees.
Rodriguez was elected sheriff in 2012. The vote has no bearing on his position, and Rodriguez said Friday that his employees’ vote “doesn’t mean anything to me.”
“The FOP didn’t vote me into office,” he said. “The people of Nez Perce County voted for me, and that’s who I answer to.”
The union’s attorney, Jennifer Douglass, said the union felt it necessary to issue the statement to protect its members “and to educate the voters on any significant concerns.”
The vote was issued in response to claims against Rodriguez for workplace discrimination, concerns with adhering to internal policies, expenditure of public funds, inadequate training and staffing, as well as significant employee turnover, according to the union statement.
Two employee complaints against Rodriguez recently were filed with the Idaho Human Rights Council, according to former Chief Deputy Bryce Scrimsher, who was fired by Rodriguez on Nov. 27. The complaints allege an instance of sexual harassment and hostile work environment, and Scrimsher previously told the Tribune he believed he was fired for helping employees file the complaints.
Rodriguez said he had no idea that Scrimsher was involved in assisting employees file the complaints. Rodriguez hired part-time reserve officer for Garfield County Bill Jollymore to fill the undersheriff position Jan. 16.
“If the union thinks they can sit there and push me out of office, that’s not gonna happen,” Rodriguez said, adding he has no intention of resigning.
Rodriguez has drawn attention to himself several times recently, including a Facebook post to his page of a meme mocking victims of sexual assault who report a crime years after the incident. Rodriguez apologized for the controversial content and said his wife posted the image.
Rodriguez also hand-delivered a misdemeanor citation to former Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport Manager Robin Turner for an allegation Turner had intercourse at the airport. The report was investigated by Lewiston police about a year prior and didn’t result in any citation at the time. Rodriguez issued the citation Oct. 11, and Turner has a jury trial scheduled for Thursday.