Broward County Sheriff's Office

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Broward County Sheriff's Office
BSOLOGO
AbbreviationBSO
Agency overview
Formed1915[1]
Employees5,400[2]
Annual budget$730 million[3]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionFlorida, U.S.
Legal jurisdictionUnincorporated areas of Broward County, Florida, and 15 local municipalities through contract services.[1]
General nature
  • Local civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters2601 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Agency executive
Website
www.sheriff.org
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue
Agency overview
Fire chiefJoseph Fernandez

The Broward County Sheriff's Office (BSO) is a public safety organization responsible for both law enforcement and fire protection duties within Broward County, Florida. With 5,400 employees,[2] it is the largest sheriff's department in the state. Sheriff Gregory Tony heads the agency. BSO was one of America's largest fully-accredited sheriff's departments before losing accreditation (by unanimous vote) in 2019.[4] Uniquely, the BSO also operates the county fire department and emergency medical services, the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue (BSFR).

Structure and Roles[]

The BSO is responsible for law enforcement and civil protection in Broward County. The BSO also oversees the fire department and emergency medical services for Broward County.

History[]

Stoneman Douglas High School shooting[]

Main article: Stoneman Douglas High School shooting

Following a deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February 2018, the Broward County Sheriff's Office received widespread criticism for its handling of the police response, with much of the criticism being directed at Sheriff Scott Israel for not addressing warnings about the suspected gunman despite his lengthy record of threatening behavior. Israel's deputies were also criticized for staying outside the school and not immediately confronting the gunman.[5][6][7] This led to the resignations of several police officers who responded to the scene, and Israel's suspension by new Governor Ron DeSantis.[7] A commission appointed by then-Governor Rick Scott to investigate the shooting condemned the police inaction and urged school districts across the state to adopt greater measures of security.[6][7][8]

Conflict between sheriffs and deputies[]

Under Scott Israel[]

Scott Israel received a vote of no-confidence linked to the mishandling of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, the first such vote in the Department's history.[9] The Broward Sheriff's Office Deputies Association voted 534–94 against Israel, with union President Jeff Bell vowing to ask Governor Rick Scott to consider removing Israel and praising the "great courage" of members who voted "under threat of retaliation and reprisal."[10][9] Scott took no action.

Israel described the no confidence vote as a "political stunt" intended to help the union in salary bargaining with the Department, at that time underway.[11] Bell denied this.[12] The largest union of sheriff's office employees, the Federation of Public Employees, which does not represent any sworn law enforcement employees, gave Israel a vote of confidence.[10]

On January 11, 2019, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, three days after his inauguration, announced that he had signed an executive order suspending Sheriff Scott Israel because of his department's handling of the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. DeSantis appointed former Coral Springs Police Sergeant Gregory Tony as sheriff to replace Israel.[13][failed verification]

Under Gregory Tony[]

Governor DeSantis removed Israel from office and replaced him with former Coral Springs police officer Gregory Tony. Tony ran to be elected to a full term in the 2020 Democratic primary, which practically guarantees election in democratic Broward. Israel, Al Pollock, Willie Jones, Andrew Maurice Smalling, and Santiago Vazquez also competed in the contested election. While the Sun-Sentinel, Broward County's leading newspaper, endorsed Israel, Tony narrowly prevailed– winning 37% of the vote to Israel's 35%.[14][15] Tony defeated Wayne Clark in the general election with 63% of the vote.

Tony has made police reform the central issue of his campaign.[16] In his first campaign advertisement he stated that he "suspended and fired some deputies accused of excessive force. He fired Christopher Krickovich after the department Professional Standards Committee recommended he be exonerated, and he replaced all the members of the Committee except for Jeff Bell." He fired "at least five deputies" for misconduct.[17] He also fired deputies Kevin Fanti and Jorge Sobrino.[18]

Tony fired deputies Brian Miller, Edward Eason, and Joshua Stambaugh for neglect of duty during the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.[18]

On April 3, 2020, Broward deputy Shannon Bennett, 39, died from COVID-19 which he contracted in the line of duty. As of April 5, more than a dozen Sheriff's Office employees had tested positive.[19] On April 7, Deputy Union president Jeff Bell published a column in the Sun Sentinel, accusing Tony of poor leadership and specifically not providing deputies with sufficient personal protective equipment, a charge Tony denied in a news conference held the same day. Tony referred to Bell as a "rogue employee", who, although a deputy, works full time for the union and "hasn't worn a uniform in years". Tony described Bell's actions as "dishonorable" because of his attempt, in Tony's words, for using Bennett's death "to politicize and capitalize on a moment when we lost one of our own".[19]

On April 10, Tony suspended Jeff Bell indefinitely with pay, "saying he made false statements, has corrupt practices, has exhibited conduct that is unbecoming and has not used proper discretion", and starting an Internal Affairs case.[20]

On April 15 there were 77 positive coronavirus cases reported in the department.[20]

On April 20, the Deputies union released the results of a 693–93 vote of no confidence in Tony, and the Lieutenants union, also citing the lack of personal protective equipment, a vote of 33–5.[21]

Programs[]

Domestic violence prevention[]

Broward County Sheriff's Office works in partnership with Women in Distress (WID) to prevent domestic violence.[22] WID is a nationally accredited, state-certified, full service domestic violence center in Broward County that provides victims of domestic violence with safe shelter, crisis intervention and resources, and to educate the community in order to Stop Abuse For Everyone (SAFE) through intervention, education and advocacy.[23]

Media[]

The Broward County Sheriff's Office was featured prominently in the first season of COPS in 1989.[24]

District Offices[]

Fire Stations[]

Station No. Location Engine Company Quint Company or Platform Company Rescue Unit
(EMS) 		Other Units
1 Dania Beach Quint 1 Rescue 1
4 Deerfield Beach Engine 4 Rescue 4
6 Port Everglades Engine 6
Engine 206 		Rescue 6 Chemical 6
Fireboat 6
Battalion 6
7 Hallandale Beach Engine 7 Quint 7 Rescue 7 Battalion 7
10 Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Engine 10 Rescue 10 Battalion 10
Truck 410
Truck 810
Truck 910
14 Fort Lauderdale Engine 14 Rescue 14
17 Dania Beach Quint 17 Rescue 17 Battalion 17
HazMat 17
21 Weston/Unincorporated West Broward Quint 21 Rescue 21 Battalion 21
23 Broadview Park Engine 23 Tender 23
27 Pembroke Park/West Park Engine 27 Rescue 27
Rescue 227
28 Cooper City Engine 28 Platform 28 Rescue 28
Rescue 228
32 Fort Lauderdale Engine 32 Platform 32 Rescue 32
Rescue 232 		Squad 32
TRT 32
37 Lauderdale Lakes Engine 37 Rescue 37
Rescue 237 		Battalion 37
51 Deerfield Beach Rescue 51
55 Weston/Unincorporated West Broward Engine 55 Rescue 55
Rescue 255
60 Hallandale Beach Engine 60 Rescue 60
Rescue 260
66 Deerfield Beach Engine 66 Rescue 66
67 Weston/Unincorporated West Broward Engine 67 Rescue 67
75 Deerfield Beach Engine 75 Rescue 75
81 Weston/Unincorporated West Broward Engine 81 Platform 81 Rescue 81
85 Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport Air Rescue 85
90 Hallandale Beach Rescue 90
93 Dania Beach Quint 93 Rescue 93
102 Deerfield Beach Engine 102 Platform 102 Rescue 102 Battalion 102
106 Weston/Unincorporated West Broward Engine 106 Rescue 106 Air Boat 106
Brush 106
111 Deerfield Beach Rescue 111

List of sheriffs[]

Broward County Sheriff vehicle
  • A.W. Turner (1915 - 1925)[25]
  • Paul C. Bryan (1925 - 1927)
  • A.W. Turner (1927 - 1931)
  • Walter Clark (1931 - 1939)
  • Eddie Lee (1939 - 1940)
  • Walter Clark (1941 - 1950)
  • Amos Hall (1951 - 1957)
  • J.A. "Quill" Lloyd (1957 - 1961)
  • Allen B. Michell (1961 - 1968)
  • Thomas Walker (1968)
  • Edward J. Stack (1969 - 1979)
  • Robert Butterworth (1979 - 1982)
  • George Brescher (1983 - 1985)
  • Nick Navarro (1985 - 1993)
  • Ron Cochran (1993 - 1997)
  • Ken Jenne (1997 - 2007)
  • Al Lamberti (2007 - 2013)
  • Scott Israel (2013 – 2019)
  • Gregory Tony (2019–present)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "The History of the Broward Sheriff's Office". Broward Sheriff's Office. Archived from the original on January 11, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Broward Sheriff's Office - About the Broward Sheriff's Office". Broward County Sheriff's Office. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Broward Sheriff's Office - Office of the Sheriff". Broward County Sheriff's Office. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  4. ^ Scouten, Ted (July 1, 2019). "BSO Loses Accreditation; Former Sheriff Scott Israel To Run To Get Job Back". WFOR-TV (miami.cbslocal.com). Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. ^ Steinbuch, Yaron (January 3, 2019). "Parkland shooting report backs arming teachers, slams police response". New York Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Lewak, Doree; Ridley, Jane (March 13, 2018). "Parkland survivors revisit tragedy — and fight to make schools safer". New York Post. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c Li, David K. (January 11, 2019). "Sheriff Scott Israel removed from office after criticism of Parkland school shooting response". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  8. ^ Fleshler, David (December 13, 2018). "Broward Sheriff's sergeant called 'an absolute, total failure' as Parkland shooting panel slams agency". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Flores, Rosa; Sanchez, Ray (April 26, 2018). "The fate of the sheriff from the Parkland shooting lands in the Florida governor's lap". CNN. Archived from the original on 2019-10-16. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  10. ^ a b "Deputy's vote against Israel is acrimonious". Palm Beach Post. April 27, 2018. p. A10. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021 – via newspaper.com.
  11. ^ "Union's 'no confidence' vote is a 'political stunt'". Sun Sentinel. 26 Apr 2018. p. A9. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Sheriff given no-confidence vote from union". Palm Beach Post. April 27, 2018. p. B10. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "The History of the Broward Sheriff's Office". Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  14. ^ Sun Sentinel Editorial Board (July 17, 2020). "Endorsement: Despite the past, Broward Democrats should nominate Scott Israel for sheriff". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  15. ^ "Summary Results - Election Night Reporting". enr.electionsfl.org. Archived from the original on 2020-09-24. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  16. ^ Swisher, Skyler (June 18, 2020). "Sheriff Gregory Tony pledges to supportnd police reform initiatives". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  17. ^ Kelley, EIileen; Ariza, Mario (February 20, 2020). "Broward sheriff overhauls discipline board to ensure deputies are held accountable". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  18. ^ a b Kelley, Eileen (December 11, 2019). "Deputy is fired for slamming student's head to the ground". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  19. ^ a b Nicol, Ryan (April 5, 2020). "39-year-old Broward Sheriff's Office deputy dies after contracting coronavirus 'in the line of duty'". . Archived from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  20. ^ a b Kelley, Eileen (April 15, 2020). "Coronavirus spreads at Broward Sheriff's Office". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  21. ^ Kelley, Eileen (April 21, 2020). "Deputy union says it has no confidence in Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  22. ^ "NEWS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE JOINT BSO & WOMEN IN DISTRESS EFFORT". www.sheriff.org. Archived from the original on 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  23. ^ "Women In Distress | Broward County, providing victims of domestic violence with safe shelter, crisis intervention, resources and education for the community". www.womenindistress.org. Archived from the original on 2015-06-14. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  24. ^ TV.com (1989-03-11). "Cops - Season 1". TV.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  25. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2018-11-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links[]

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