EXPOSED: Is FL Sheriff Mina PLAYING everyone - including the governor and other sheriffs?

ORANGE COUNTY, FL - The Sheriff John Mina's saga continues. Last week, Law Enforcement Today published an article in which Mina was accused of abdicating his oath of office by refusing to assist federal immigration authorities in his jurisdiction, Orange County, which includes the city of Orlando.

The article was based on information in The Gateway Pundit, which cited an internal email in which Mina said, “Any ICE/immigration-related calls must be cleared through the chain of command.” 

After the article was published, Law Enforcement Today received an email from a member of the sheriff’s office who did not want his name published. The email was sent from an Orange County Sheriff’s Office address. While the timing of the email was suspicious, we felt it was essential to “set the record straight” based on the new information.

It appears we may have been played. 

After reposting our article with an editor’s note, we received an email asking if we’d been “threatened” to amend the original article. Since we had not, that information was relayed to the email's sender. During some back-and-forth correspondence, he told us that he had some information that would be important for context. 

It appears that Mina has a split personality…one where he pretends, on the one hand, to be “fully cooperating” with ICE and other immigration agencies and officials, and the other where he instructs his deputies to clear any ICE/immigration calls through the chain of command, as we wrote in our original reporting.

That instruction was contained in an email sent to the agency’s captains from Major Daniel Gutierrez. The latter is apparently to appease the portion of the community that supports illegal immigration. 

Law Enforcement Today was contacted by Bill Moore, a retired police officer familiar with Mina. Full disclosure: Moore previously ran against Mina for the position of sheriff. He related that Mina has indeed been taking both sides of the immigration issue, in part to remain in the good graces of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who, as recently as March 6, told conservative talk show host Mark Levin that every county sheriff in Florida had signed the 287(g) agreement pledging to cooperate with ICE. 

Moore told us about a February 3, 2025, News Channel 13 article in which Mina said in a press conference that agencies like Orange County should not get involved in immigration activities. 

“That is the job of the federal government. I know many sheriffs share the sentiment. We are focused on violent crime. Now, certainly, if there is someone here in this country illegally that is a violent criminal, I’m just like everyone else–I don’t want to see them here either.” 

That statement is a far cry from the selective email sent to Law Enforcement Today, where he said his agency “will continue to enforce all laws within our authority, including those that relate to unlawful immigration. In addition to that, we will continue to cooperate with state and federal partners to target criminals in our community.” 

Now, imagine you are a sheriff’s deputy working in Orange County. What guidance do you follow? If you come across an illegal alien, do you wait for them to commit a “ violent crime” before you act? Will that one or two seconds of hesitation cost you your life if you hesitate? Mina’s mixed messages could have disastrous results if a deputy under the command of Mina isn’t sure how to act or if he or she will be thrown under the bus if they act improperly. 

According to another source we spoke to, a retired Orange County sheriff, that is a distinct possibility. We promised anonymity to the source, who claimed the OCSO would retaliate if his or her name were revealed. 

“Mina is a politician who, time and time again, has shown that he favors his political positions over his deputies. I don’t know one person who trusts him or supports him. It’s sad,” the source said. 

He told me that due to job-related stress, many of the deputies who work under Mina “have drinking problems, are on anti-depressants, and even committed suicide. When you talk to them, it’s majority work-related stress. Not the things we do or see.

“It’s the lack of support from the admin and how quick they are to railroad you. The morale is at an all-time low. I’ve never seen it so bad. It’s sad what that agency has become. It went from the agency everyone wanted to work for to a stepping stone for many.

“Admin got off on screwing deputies over and flexing their stripes or bars. The biggest threat in there wasn’t the criminals; it was your own people,” our source said. 

This goes back to the mixed messages Mina is sending to his deputies. It’s a lose-lose situation. 

As Moore told us, the timing of statements coming out from the OCSO indicates “a reactive attempt to control the narrative,” which he said is also called “Crisis Management.” 

**Before the leak** Internal policies reflect a limited engagement with immigration enforcement. 

**After the leak** Public messaging emphasizes cooperation with ICE and enforcement of all laws, likely in response to political and community pressure.

“Sheriff Mina is attempting to appease both sides,” Moore said. “On one hand, reassuring immigrant communities that they are not actively seeking out undocumented individuals, while on the other hand, signaling to law-and-order advocates that they are working with ICE when necessary.” 

Gov. DeSantis should closely examine Mina to ensure he is complying with the requirements put forth under the 287(g) he signed. Florida law formalizes agreements between all 67 Florida sheriffs and ICE, allowing local officers to enforce federal immigration laws. If Mina refuses to do his job, DeSantis should consider removing him from office. 

And let's not forget - this is the same far-left "sheriff" who took a knee with protestors.  As one deputy put it, "the sooner this political hack joins the likes of Art Acevedo on CNN, the sooner cops can get back to doing police work - not pandering to a democrat in a police uniform". 

'nuf said.