WHITESTOWN — The union that represents deputies in the Road Patrol of the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office has announced a “no confidence” vote in Oneida County Sheriff Robert M. Maciol, who is running for reelection this year. 

The no confidence vote was held at the beginning of the year and was announced on Tuesday, according to the Oneida County Police Benevolent Association. 

“Over the past 12 years, Sheriff Maciol has failed to adjust to the changing climate of law enforcement while increasing demands are placed on the PBA members,” said the PBA in a release. 

“The PBA feels that the issues surrounding the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division have the potential to compromise public safety.”

The PBA said they held a vote on Jan. 27, 2022, in which 72 out of 83 voting members cast a vote of “no confidence” in Maciol. Officials said both staffing and morale within the Road Patrol have been “in decline since approximately 2016.”

Union officials said they began meeting with Maciol in February to discuss the issues, but those meetings eventually ended after early progress. Officials said, “Sheriff Maciol either lost interest in the process or did not have the ability to solve some of the larger and more important issues.”

Union officials also noted that they have been in negotiations for a new contract since the last one expired in December 2020, and negotiations have ended without an agreement. 

Maciol is running on the Democratic and Conservative party lines. He has held the position of Sheriff since Jan. 1, 2011. Maciol is opposed by Independent candidate Jim Scarchilli. 

In response to the union’s announcement, Maciol said he will continue to do his job to the best of his abilities.

“As Oneida County Sheriff, and during my entire career in law enforcement, I have always strived to put people first. As someone who spent nearly 35 years of his professional life as a police officer, no one respects the men and women of the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, and what they do, more than me,” Maciol said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, the collective bargaining process can be challenging, often times due to uncontrollable factors, such as inflation and the national labor shortage. The collective bargaining process can also, very unfortunately, turn contentious, personal and political. This is nothing more than an attempt by the Oneida County Police Benevolent Association to use my reelection campaign as a means to gain some sort of leverage in negotiations. Fortunately, and as I hear loud and clear every day from the people of Oneida County, people are tired of ‘politics’.”

Maciol noted that his administration successfully signed a new contract over the past year with the union that represents all corrections, civilian and Civil Division employees of the Sheriff’s Office. 

“This same opportunity has been on the table for the Oneida County Police Benevolent Association for months,” Maciol stated. 

“Despite their current feelings, I will continue to work hard to reach a fair contract for all sides and fulfill the duties of the office of Oneida County Sheriff to the best of my abilities. No union vote will ever change that.”