Lagerbloom made his pick from a list of eight semi-finalists that included three internal candidates: Fort Lauderdale's Assistant Chief Frank Sousa, Maj. Dana Swisher and Capt. Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Employee Recognition-Complaint Hotline 954-828-6956. Dietrich has been overseeing the agencys 530 sworn officers and 179 civilians since July 9, when Lagerbloom demoted Rick Maglione from chief to major. Maglione had been chief since 2016. The first round of applications did not measure up to the expectations of the city manager, Trantalis said. Karen Dietrich is stepping down as interim chief of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department after six months in the role, effectively taking herself out of the running to be the agency's top cop. The department is not broken, said the union president, Brandon Diaz. Lagerbloom, charged with hiring the citys new top cop, also wants to name a new interim chief to level the playing field. Lagerbloom says he made his choice partly based on the positive feedback Scirotto got from both police and the community including religious leaders, NAACP officials and Fort Lauderdales citizens police review board. "I want a great relationship with people in our community who havent had access in the past," Scirotto said at the time. News that a chief has finally been chosen was a relief to Fort Lauderdales police officers, said Detective Brandon Diaz, union president. Police Chief Jorge Colina will walk out of the downtown Miami police headquarters for the final time on Friday. The list of candidates includes Interim Chief Karen Dietrich, a veteran Fort Lauderdale cop who came up through the ranks; Craig Capri, former chief in Daytona Beach; Todd Chamberlain, a. The investigation into the bias complaints noted that Scirotto once said a conference room wall of photos was "too white and said, Im gonna change that., Another time, when considering a promotion, the investigation found that Scirotto said which one is blacker? The report quoted Scirotto as saying he intended to "consider diversity at every opportunity., Theres everything we have to do in the proper way. But Scirotto warned that minority groups are now being treated as less than deserving. Bill Schultz; retired Miami Assistant Chief Dennis Jackson; Chief Kristen Ziman from Aurora, Ill.; Orlando Chief Orlando Rolon; and Houston Assistant Chief Heather Morris. Police accused some protesters of throwing rocks, bricks and fireworks, arguing that warranted a strong response. After less than a year on the job, Fort Lauderdale's top cop is being fired after an investigation into employee complaints. They were promoted because they were the best candidates.. "We serve a very diverse community and thats important. It cited 21 witnesses on Scirottos hiring and promotion practices. He has the respect and support of the command staff and the rank and file. We wanted someone who can shepherd this department into a new era of policing, build trust and keep the needs of our diverse community at the forefront. That sense of urgency is not lost on Lagerbloom, who met with the union last week to give them an update on the search. Robert Chabali, retired assistant chief in Dayton, Ohio. More , The City of Fort Lauderdale is an Equal Opportunity Employer.-, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, 1300 W Broward Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 | Tel: 954-828-5700 | Internal Affairs: 954-828-6956 |Site Map, 2023 Fort Lauderdale Police Department | Created by Vision Internet Innovators of Online Government. The city manager is taking his time, Glassman said. Dietrich has been in charge of the agencys 530 sworn officers and 179 civilians since July 9, when Lagerbloomdemoted Rick Maglionefrom chief to major. Starting Monday, April 4, Patrick Lynn will take over the department, announced Fort Lauderdale City Manager Chris Lagerbloom. Other candidates vying for the Fort Lauderdale position come from similar leadership roles. If you want to take an organization somewhere, sometimes you have to look to the outside.. Fort Lauderdales new chief happens to be a fitness enthusiast and collegiate basketball referee. A Warner Bros. I would rather see him take the time and do it right. A city of Fort Lauderdale news release said the chief, Larry Scirotto, 48, was fired by City Manager Chris Lagerbloom on Thursday. He holds a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Ashworth University and is a masters degree candidate in Organizational Development and Leadership from Saint Josephs University. ", KY State Police Welcome Largest Cadet Class in Years. Investigates both sworn and civilian public safety candidates, vendors, and other support candidates through in-person interviews. He said a mix of emotions will come over him as he finishes his last week on. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Scirotto told CNN he promoted 15 people from August to November, and of that group, six were ethnic or gender minorities selected for promotions based on their merit. More FLPD Seeks to Identify Man Captured on Video Near Homicide Scene It doesnt need fixing. Critics lambasted officers for firing tear gas and rubber bullets during what began as a peaceful protest. Click for details on her case and to see how you can help. Kentucky now has 899 state troopers, which is an increase of about 22% compared to their staffing level in November 2021. Humane Society of Broward County Kicks Off VCA Walk for the Animals in Fort Lauderdale, BSO Searching forMissing 11-Year-Old Girl From Pompano Beach, Miami-Dade Mayor, State Attorney Announce New Measures to Protect HOA Residents, Check Your Change! Willie Dennard, captain . Three of the semifinalists named by the City of Fort Lauderdale were internal: Interim Assistant Chief Frank Sousa, Maj. Dana Swisher and Capt. Mission Statement Police union chiefs were cautious. The citys police department is now under the leadership of Acting Chief Luis Alvarez, the city said, and the selection process for a new chief is underway. Luis Cabrera, deputy chief in Miami. The hosts on Drew Gerabo Live were left speculating what was happening when they could not reach the sheriff. Minutes later Sheriff Mike Chitwood responded that he was OK and explained what happened. I watched George Floyd in horror like hopefully every other law enforcement professional in America did, he told the Sun Sentinel. CNN obtained a copy of the report that also said Scirotto had overlooked a white man with 20 years tenure with the department, and instead narrowed the choice for a job between two men of color, and asked: Which one is blacker?. As assistant chief, Scirotto was responsible for oversight of the police bureaus accreditation, policy development, labor management, internal investigations, and criminal intelligence and education. Atlanta-Area Agency Facing Critical Officer Shortage. He wasnt all just talk, she said. 2023 Cable News Network. Four officers three white and one Hispanic filed EEOC complaints alleging that the chief was promoting unfairly. Officers would be paid the salary they had when they left but wouldnt receive vacation time or any health, disability and retirement benefits. Units of the Office of the Chief of Police. With Dietrich out as interim chief, Lagerbloom turned to former Davie Police Chief Patrick Lynn to oversee the agency while the national search was under way. He followed up with an email. Interviewed by officials, Scirotto denied asking which candidate was blacker when deciding on the promotion, but admitted to making comments about the wall of staff photos being too white because, he felt, it did not reflect the ethnically diverse community the police department serves. The report concluded that most believed that Chief Scirotto made clear his intention to promote based on race, gender or sexual orientation and that almost every witness was dissatisfied with Scirottos approach to promotions. Sheriff Thorntonposted a photo on Facebook of at least 17 unused patrol cars. The acting police chief will be Luis Alvarez, who is currently an assistant chief. Our officers deserve some stability, which theyre finally going to get., Larry Scirotto, a former assistant police chief in Pittsburgh, has been tapped to lead the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. I wont allow them to tarnish the work that Ive done in the 24 years Ive been in this profession., In one example in the report, Scirotto is alleged to have overlooked a White man with 20 years tenure with the department, and instead narrowed the choice between two men of color, and asked, which one is blacker.. Chicago Losing Officers to Florida Agencies. Larry Scirotto, 48, the son of a white mother and Black father and the departments first openly gay chief, was fired last Thursday after a city report related examples such as how he had once pointed to a display of photos of the departments command staff in a conference room and said: That wall is too white and Im gonna change that.. Chief Greg Allen joined the El Paso Police Department in 1978, starting off patrolling Central and the West Side. And I anticipate they will all step up and support the new chief.. (Adelaide Chen) Lagerbloom has not said just what prompted the move, but Maglione posted a public statement on July 4 defending the actions his officers took during a May 31 protest over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. I have no allegiance to anyone there, which means everyone will be measured on their own merit. Scirotto told CNN Saturday the report that triggered his termination from the department was vague on the facts, and was largely based on hearsay. Theyre ready to go, he said with a laugh. They called for racial justice in response to a grand jury decision in Louisville to charge one officer involved in the raid that killed Breonna Taylor. He came from a department that shared the most information on data and statistics.. I have to be that visible leader, leading from the front, leading by example.. Some believed it was about time changes were made, but stated if promotions were based on things such as race it would even hurt or undermine the people promoted, the report said. Former Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Larry Scirotto is seen in this file photo from the Fort Lauderdale Police Dept. I dont want to second-guess the choice of the city manager, Trantalis said. Glassman says hes glad to see the city manager is not in a rush to name a new chief. Fort Lauderdale Police Department at City of Fort Lauderdale College Degrees Designed for Police Officers, Best Practices for Active Shooter Response and Police Training, The Tennessee Department of Public Safety Increased Visibility, Accountability and Accuracy with Inventory Management Software Designed Specifically for Law Enforcement, DC Mayor Taps Veteran Metro Officer as Next Police Chief, After Murders of Officers in Charlotte Area NC Chiefs Ask Governor to Condemn Attacks on Police, CA Sheriff Defies Judge's Order to Release Violent Inmates Over COVID, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Chief Tests Positive for COVID-19, Chicago Police Superintendent Announces Resignation. Damned if you do, damned if you dont. Larry Scirotto is expected to join the department in. Protestors assemble outside Fort Lauderdale Police Department headquarters on Sept 27, 2020. appreciated. Roln has worked with the Orlando Police Department since 1992 and was sworn in as the agencys 39th police chief in 2018. The other five are Dennis Jackson II, retired assistant chief for the Miami Police Department; Heather Morris, assistant chief for the Houston Police Department; Larry Scirotto, retired assistant chief for the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police; and Kristen Ziman, chief of the Aurora (Ill.) Police Department. Among reforms Scirotto planned was to create a multi-cultural liaison unit to expand officers roles as liaisons to key groups that have traditionally been marginalized and undeserved. Larry Scirotto is sworn in as the new chief of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department by Chief Judge Jack Tuter on 24 August 2021, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In Fort Lauderdale, he beat out dozens of applicants including three internal candidates to step into the role of chief, a job that comes with a $200,000 salary and a $140 million budget . Fort Lauderdale Police Department. They called for racial justice in response to a grand jury decision in Louisville to charge one officer involved in the raid that killed Breonna Taylor. Ron DeSantis was doing some of the recruitment himself on Monday. The report followed several. When asked about his approach to promotions, Scirotto told investigators he was going to consider diversity at every opportunity, and he had to be intentional in his decision-making process. Seven contenders are in line to lead Fort Lauderdales police department. Hes also a masters degree candidate in Organizational Development and Leadership at Saint Josephs University. A list of eight semifinalists for the open chief position provided by the City of Fort Lauderdale lists Roln among its candidates, and Orlando Police Department spokesperson Autumn Jones confirmed Thursday that Roln is in a selection process for the position. Police say protesters started it all when they threw rocks, bricks and fireworks. He joined Davies police department as chief soon after where he served until 2017. Michelle Solomon, Podcast Producer/Reporter. The list of semi-finalists represented a lot of talent both within and outside the department, Mayor Dean Trantalis said. Top 10 Police Chief CandidatesSelect the candidates name to see their resume. I know we dont release the data publicly in a way I want to, so the public can see when we use force and the outcome of that force.. The city of Fort Lauderdale has fired its police chief Larry Scirotto, who has been in office for less than a year, following allegations of discriminatory practices for promotions. Larry Scirotto is expected to join the department in mid-August, City Manager Chris Lagerbloom announced Tuesday. FLPD Seeks to Identify Man Captured on Video Near Homicide Scene, Employee Recognition-Complaint Hotline 954-828-6956. 10:25 PM EST, Sat March 5, 2022. He started making positive changes that would impact the whole community in a more positive direction than we had been in," community activist Jackie Scott said. Fort Lauderdale Police names Patrick Lynn chief. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Fort Lauderdale has named its new Chief of Police. The investigation concluded that during his time as police chief, Scirotto implemented an approach to hiring and promotion that was unfairly focused on minority candidates. By November, the city had hired a law firm to investigate complaints. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has been without a permanent leader since July 9. Lagerbloom says some potential candidates are not applying out of respect for Dietrich. City Manager Chris Lagerbloom has announced former Pittsburgh Assistant Chief Larry Scirotto as the sole finalist for Chief of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. The promotions I made of minority candidates were because they were exceptional candidates who excelled at every level of the organization, who deserved to be promoted and who were, by the way, happened to be minority not because they were minority., Scirotto was sworn-in as police chief in mid-August last year. As I see it, this is a fresh start for everybody, including the internal leadership team, he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Its too important., Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4554 or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan. Starting Monday, April 4, Patrick Lynn will take over the department, announced Fort Lauderdale City Manager Chris . /end, The city says that interim Chief Patrick Lynn will remain to assist in the transition.. Lynn becomes the top cop after the firing earlier this month of Larry Scirotto after just over six months of leading the Fort Lauderdale Police Department after a workplace discrimination complaint. In a statement the city said it had decided to cut ties with the police chief, who was not on a contract, saying: After a thorough and extensive investigation of employee complaints at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, City Manager Chris Lagerbloom has determined that it is in the Citys best interest to separate employment with Larry Scirotto.. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department offers one of the highest starting salaries in Florida ($67,620.80-$104,395.20) and a great retirement structure, great health benefits and a slew of other incentives such as paid time off and department-issued uniforms and equipment. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) Tallahassee's Community Partners Committee narrowed the list of candidates for the city's new chief of police from 17 names to 10 names. That appointment will likely happen in the next couple weeks, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said Monday. OPD referred further questions to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. For nearly a year, Fort Lauderdale's troubled police department has been without a permanent leader, with two different interim chiefs taking over while a national search was underway. Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. This is not a moment in time. Scirotto joined the department after the Fort Lauderdale police were hit by accusations of internal turmoil and use of excessive force after officers fired rubber bullets and teargas into a crowd protesting the 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, which sparked civil rights protests across the country and internationally. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. There would have been 12 white men, one white woman and two minorities if I had promoted as the complainants say I should have, Scirotto told the paper. FL Sheriff Calls Anti-Semitic Group "Scumbags, Says He's Honored to be On Their Hit List, "These scumbags came to the wrong county," Volusia County Sheriff, Mike Chitwood, said. Additionally, about 120 of the filled positions are recruits that have not completed training, according to the police department. The report said that Scirotto had responded that the context of his comment had been built around how do I convince the community that we are an inclusive and diverse organization if this wall is so white?. In response to calls for racial justice and police reform over the past year, Roln helped usher in changes at OPD, including banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants, starting a pilot program to send mental health professionals to certain calls and initiating outside reviews of the agency by police consultants to assist with community engagement. As chief, Scirotto promises to bring accountability to the department and to treat everyone fairly. The departments rank and file are eager to see a new leader named, said Detective Brandon Diaz, police union president. Its a wait-and-see attitude, Diaz added. Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale has hired a new police chief just 19 days after the firing of former Chief Larry Scirotto.