2 police officer organizations support Larizza

Two organizations that represent police officers in 11 counties announced Tuesday that they are supporting State Attorney John Tanner's opponent in the upcoming election.

Their "trust and confidence" in Tanner has eroded over the past 10 years, they said.

Tanner has fought for more than two years to keep the seal on a presumably critical grand jury presentment. The report deals with the way Tanner's office investigated those who were involved in the arrest and detention of his daughter in 2005.

A man who had fired on several law enforcement officers in Ormond Beach was shot by a Volusia County deputy over a year ago.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement cleared the deputy of wrongdoing within "a matter of weeks," Ingram said.

Instead of "mending" his relationship with law enforcement, Tanner "has ventured down a destructive path that has resulted in ruining the careers of hardworking police officers," Champion said.

He then pointed to former Flagler Beach Police Officer Nathaniel David Juratovac as an example of Tanner's "reckless behavior."

Juratovac, who arrested Tanner's daughter, was charged in November 2006 with falsifying police reports and felony perjury.

Circuit Judge James R. Clayton issued a directed verdict of acquittal on May 22 after a three-day trial in DeLand.

"I can understand Mr. Tanner wanting to protect his daughter," he added. "However, I feel he abused his powers in doing so by soliciting and manufacturing allegations against me to assist in his daughter's charges being dismissed."