By Adam Pagnucco.
UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO, which represents employees of the Sheriff’s Office, called a press conference today to announce that nearly 80 percent of the office’s employees have cast a vote of no confidence in first-term Sheriff Maxwell Uy. Uy is running for reelection but faces a challenger, Will Milam, who has been endorsed by MCGEO, former County Executive Ike Leggett and a host of other prominent supporters.
MCGEO has sent out numerous documents to support its claims against Uy. This post reprints two of them: the press release from the union and a statement by MCGEO President Gino Renne. Gino is a tough opponent for any politician he targets, so Uy will have to work as hard as he can to get reelected.
First, the press release.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2025
Contact: Lisa Titus, UFCW Local 1994 Recorder –ltitus@mcgeo.org
Gino Renne, UFCW Local 1994 President –grenne@mcgeo.org
Deputies’ Union Calls for Sheriff Uy’s Resignation Amid Crisis of Leadership
ROCKVILLE, MD – At a press conference today, UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO, representing deputies and civilian staff of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, announced that deputies had overwhelmingly cast a vote of no confidence in Sheriff Max Uy and called on him to resign. Union leaders cited an exodus of deputies, a toxic workplace culture, and plummeting morale under his watch.
“Let’s be clear: this crisis is not about ‘natural attrition,’” said Gino Renne, President of UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO. “Deputies are walking out the door years before retirement, transferring to other agencies, or resigning without another job lined up. They’re not leaving law enforcement — they’re leaving Sheriff Uy. He’s not leading; he’s driving people out.”
Since Uy took office in 2022, nearly 30 deputies have departed — through early retirements, transfers, or resignations fueled by frustration. Exit interviews cite poor management, favoritism, denial of training, and constant second-guessing by command staff.
Deputies themselves described the workplace in the petition of no confidence:
- “This administration has made the work environment unsafe. Deputies have no confidence in this leadership.”
- “The culture is driven by fear, intimidation, and micromanagement.”
- “Unreasonable expectations — 60+ hours a week and still told I ‘don’t work hard enough.’”
These first-hand accounts contrast sharply with Uy’s public claims that staffing shortages are the result of national trends. Deputies say the real issue is failed leadership at the top.
“The Sheriff keeps saying, ‘It’s going to get better,’” Renne added. “But under his watch, it’s only gotten worse.
Deputies and the residents they serve can’t afford more broken promises. Sheriff Uy should do the right thing and step aside — or the voters will do it for him.”
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UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO represents over 8,000 public employees in Montgomery County and beyond, including the sworn and civilian staff of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
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Now the statement by Gino.
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Statement of Gino Renne, President, UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO
Press Conference on Vote of No Confidence in Sheriff Max Uy
September 17, 2025
Good afternoon.
Today, the men and women of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office — the deputies and staff who put their lives on the line every day — have spoken with one voice: they have no confidence in Sheriff Max Uy. And let me be crystal clear: neither do I, and neither does our union.
Sheriff Uy has taken what was once a respected law enforcement agency and run it off the road. Under his failed leadership, morale has collapsed, more than 30 experienced deputies and staff have left, and Montgomery County residents are left less safe.
This is not about politics. This is not about personality. This is about a Sheriff who retaliates against his employees, ignores their contractual rights, and spends taxpayer money to appoint a lawyer from an anti-union law firm as an assistant sheriff instead of partnering with our union and collaborating with us to solve problems. Sheriff Uy has built a culture of fear and dysfunction — and it is costing this community dearly.
While Sheriff Uy is busy playing politics and perpetually running for re-election, the work he is supposed to be doing goes undone. Courthouse security is understaffed. Domestic violence victims are left vulnerable. 911 response times are compromised. Deputies aren’t leaving law enforcement — they’re leaving Sheriff Uy’s toxic mismanagement.
Montgomery County deserves better. Our deputies deserve better. Sheriff Uy has lost the confidence of his own workforce and, by extension, the trust of the people he was elected to serve.
Sheriff Uy has a choice to make: he can do the honorable thing and retire. He can step aside now so this department can begin to heal. Or he can face the voters next year — and I believe they will send him packing.
The time for excuses is over. The time for change is now. The people of Montgomery County cannot afford four more years of Max Uy.