The president of the Corpus Christi Police Officers Association will now serve as president of the largest police labor organization in Texas.
Scott Leeton, a 30-year veteran of law enforcement, was sworn in Monday as the new president of Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, known as CLEAT. The union provides more than 28,000 members with services including legal representation, lobbying, local political action, collective bargaining and negotiation support and field-related services.
CLEAT members elected Leeton to the position on Dec. 10. He garnered 51.55% of the vote while his opponent, Johnny Perez, won 40.33% of the vote.
Scott Leeton
He will serve a three-year term as the organization’s president alongside the association’s new vice president, Norm Fisher, and incumbent vice presidents Danny Diaz and Lloyd Cook.
In addition to the 12 years that he spent as the Corpus Christi Police Officers Association president, Leeton also served for six years as vice president of the CLEAT executive board, which is composed of current Texas peace officers. He has served in various leadership roles, including as CLEAT’s Legal Committee chairperson and member of the Finance Committee.
Members lauded him for his negotiations in advocating for critical resources, as well as his leadership skills, understanding of the law enforcement profession and commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of members.
With Leeton’s election as CLEAT president, Lt. Henry Mangum, currently serving as the organization’s first vice president, will complete Leeton’s term as president of the Corpus Christi Police Officers Association.
That term will run through December, when a new president will be elected for a two-year term.
The Corpus Christi Police Officers Association and CLEAT could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.
More: Seeking to attract officers, Coastal Bend police departments increase pay, incentives
More: Here are the raises planned for Corpus Christi police officers
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Corpus Christi police veteran to lead Texas police union CLEAT