Miami FOP union chief loses bid for statewide post

Armando Aguilar?, the outspoken president of the local Fraternal Order of Police, won?t get to head the statewide police union.

Aguilar lost his bid for the job in a 268-176 vote at last week?s state FOP conference in Palm Beach Gardens, union officials said.

?I guess Central and North Florida weren?t ready for a Hispanic,? Aguilar said.

A 30-year veteran of the Miami Police Department, Aguilar has been president of the local union for the past eight years. He served as vice president for the eight years before that, he said.

Aguilar holds his local office through December.

?I don?t plan to run again in December,? he told The Miami Herald. ?At least that?s the plan for now.?

The winner of the state FOP election was incumbent Jim Preston?, a retired sergeant with the Tampa Police Department.

Kathleen McGrory

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