VENICE – Concerns about finances – including the potential impact of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hiring deputies or police officers from local agencies – framed the Aug. 22 South County Tiger Bay luncheon featuring area law enforcement leaders.
North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison and Venice Police Chief Andy Leisenring both said they weren’t aware of any police officers leaving to work for ICE and the $50,000 bonus offered to do so, but added they would always encourage officers to pursue the career path they wanted.
Garrison later said that both the Florida Police Chiefs Association and Florida Sheriffs Association had issues with those emails soliciting officers to work for the federal agency…