Michelle F. Solomon is the podcast producer/reporter/host of Local 10's original, true-crime podcast The Florida Files and a digital journalist for Local 10.com. 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. The department attracted more than 80 applicants after launching a nationwide search last summer, Lagerbloom said. Roln received criticism from some officers over the past year for pandering to the community in response to demands for reform and failing to support and defend officers against anti-police rhetoric, an officer survey showed. Scirotto, a former assistant chief in Pittsburgh, was the first openly gay chief hired in Fort Lauderdale and also is from a mixed-race background. In February, Dietrich announced she planned to step down from the role. Ali Adamson, spokesperson for the Office of the Chief at FLPD, directed questions to the City of Fort Lauderdale, which did not respond to multiple requests Thursday. It doesnt need fixing. I see it as him taking the time to make sure the right person gets hired. Vice Mayor Steve Glassman later described the entire scene as a horror show, saying it was hard to watch the police body camera footage recorded that day. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. City Manager Chris Lagerbloom, who embarked on two. If youre a hardcore college basketball fan and that name sounds familiar, its because Scirotto also works as an NCAA referee. We were looking for someone who would be a collaborative leader, both with the community and the rank and file. He formerly served as a deputy chief in charge of OPDs Patrol Services Bureau, including during the shooting at Pulse nightclub in June 2016, and has held positions in most of the agencys departments over his career. Previous chief Rick Maglione was reassigned in July 2020. Lagerbloom has declined to say just what prompted the move, but five days earlier Maglione had posted a public statement defending the actions his officers took during aMay 31 protestover the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. I think this gives the city manager more breathing room to find someone suitable to lead the department. Roln has worked with the Orlando Police Department since 1992 and was sworn in as the agencys 39th police chief in 2018. If promoting diversity is the hill Im going to die on, I will sleep well tonight, he said. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much But in an interview with Miamis 7News, Scirotto denied that he had made promotions based on minority-status. Investigates both sworn and civilian public safety candidates, vendors, and other support candidates through in-person interviews. Many believed that Chief Scirotto made clear his intention to promote, based on race, gender, or sexual orientation," Lagerbloom said. Fort Lauderdales new chief happens to be a fitness enthusiast and collegiate basketball referee. Staff reporter David Harris and reporter Susannah Bryan with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel contributed to this report. 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. 7 Candidates Vying to Be Next Ft. Lauderdale Chief - POLICE Mag Get updates on developing stories as they happen with our free breaking news email alerts. Ron DeSantis was doing some of the recruitment himself on Monday. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Fired Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Unfairly Focused on Minority Other units directly under the Office of the Chief are the FBI Broward County Public Corruption Task Force, the Legal Unit,Performance Analysis and the Police Departments Grants Office. Some officers seem to revel in the return fire. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. Chief Lynn was a stabilizing figure last year during a period of transition for this department, Lagerbloom said. This is a movement. Updated: Mar 7, 2022 / 05:51 AM EST. As for his law enforcement credentials, Scirotto was formerly the assistant police chief in Pittsburgh. The tactics used by a few officers to discredit the promotions of Black and minority officers with masters degrees, stellar reputations, and exemplary work history, are nothing short of appalling," Cecil Stone, the head of the Fort Lauderdale Black Police Association, previously wrote. 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. I believe to build trust and legitimacy in any organization, the trust is earned, he said. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. I have a vision for the department, Scirotto said at the time. Officer Shortage Has LAPD Asking Retirees to Come Back. As assistant chief, Scirotto was responsible for oversight of the police bureaus accreditation, policy development, labor management, internal investigations, and criminal intelligence and education. Following 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 city said in a statement dated March 3. The attorney for the four officers who filed the EEOC complaints said in a statement that she hopes the "city continues on this path making improvements within the agency.. The Commission said the measure was being taken in a step to increase diversity in the department. She stepped down in February after Lagerbloom, unhappy with the list of contenders, said he was conducting a new search for the departments top cop. Fort Lauderdale looks to new police chief to boost trust - Sun Sentinel 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. The report followed several. (Adelaide Chen) Lagerbloom said it is a return to the department for Lynn, who served as Interim Chief in 2021. Christina Currie, chair of the citizens police review board, says Lagerbloom picked the right guy to bring change to the department. 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. During the search, we learned that there might be several additional candidates who were interested in the position but chose not to apply out of respect for the interim chief. City News | City of Fort Lauderdale, FL Check out the resumes of 10 Fort Myers police chief candidates Roln declined to comment on the application process. 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. Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. Photograph: Amy Beth. Updated The report said Scirotto once pointed to a conference room wall displaying photos of the departments command staff and stated, that wall is too white, and Im gonna change that.. A 23-year veteran with the Pittsburgh department, Scirotto retired in January 2018 and moved to Dallas two years later. Bill. Lagerbloom,. Theyre ready for this process to be complete, Diaz said. In 2020, Lynn stepped into a former role as Davies police chief after Dale Engle resigned. News that a chief has finally been chosen was a relief to Fort Lauderdales police officers, said Detective Brandon Diaz, union president. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The city of Fort Lauderdale has identified a "sole finalist" for its chief of police position. He comes to us at an important moment in law enforcement as departments nationwide work to ensure community trust and that everyone is treated equally and fairly in interactions with officers, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said in a tweet. But the former police chief has said he plans to maintain his position on the issue. I would rather see him take the time and do it right. Lagerbloom made his pick from a list of eight semi-finalists that included three internal candidates: Fort Lauderdales Assistant Chief Frank Sousa, Maj. Dana Swisher and Capt. All FLPD Police Chaplains are duly ordained or licensed by a recognized religious institution with ecclesiastical authority and support. Larry Scirotto is expected to join the department in. I stand with my Jewish friends, and Im honored to be on your hit list. [RELATED: Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione removed as officers face scrutiny over protest brutality]. Soon after being hired, Scirotto promoted 15 officers nine were white men, six were minorities through ethnicity or gender. 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.. Receive the latest law enforcement in-depth information, news and products. They were promoted because they were the best candidates.. Documents obtained from city officials by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel earlier this month show three internal candidates under consideration for police chief and five police officials from across Florida and the nation. 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. And were talking in conversation as it relates to our community and the expectation of a diverse and inclusive organization. Engle came under fire after he suggested that a Broward Sheriffs Office deputys death from COVID-19 was linked to his sexuality. Throughout the decades, he moved up to the rank of deputy chief in charge of the Central and Pebble Hills regional command centers. 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 a leader, I will be visible and engaged with the community and the officers. I watched George Floyd in horror like hopefully every other law enforcement professional in America did, he told the Sun Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale hires new police chief college hoops fans may - WPLG Dietrich has been in charge of the agencys 530 sworn officers and 179 civilians since July 9, when Lagerbloomdemoted Rick Maglionefrom chief to major. But Scirotto warned that minority groups are now being treated as less than deserving. 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. FLPD had been criticized for its handling of downtown protests on May 31 and the aftermath, but Lagerbloom said at the time that there wasnt one event that led to the change. 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. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has been primarily operating under the direction of Assistant Chief Karen Dietrich since July, when City Manager Chris Lagerbloom demoted former Chief. 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. All rights reserved. "I want a great relationship with people in our community who havent had access in the past," Scirotto said at the time. Top 10 Police Chief CandidatesSelect the candidates name to see their resume. 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.. He spent 23 years in the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and was the youngest assistant chief in that departments history. [RELATED: Fort Lauderdales interim police chief vows to reform troubled department], Unfortunately, the current recruitment process did not produce a finalist list that contained enough candidates to continue moving it forward, Lagerbloom wrote. He said the context of the comment is built around how do I convince the community that we are an inclusive and diverse organization if this wall is so white? the report said. Former Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Larry Scirotto is seen in this file photo from the Fort Lauderdale Police Dept. 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. Glenn Sapp - Chief of Police for the Quincy Police Department since 2014, and the Assistant Chief from 2011 until then. Units of the Office of the Chief of Police. 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. Career Paths Chicago Losing Officers to Florida Agencies. City Manager Chris Lagerbloom shared the news Tuesday with the departments command staff and rank and file. The previous chief Rick Maglione was reassigned in July. The Media Relations Unit, Staff Inspections/ Accreditation Unit, and the Office of Internal Affairs are the three main components of the Office of the Chief. Scirotto will be making the move from Dallas to Fort Lauderdale with his two American bulldogs, Charlie and Linus. Additionally, about 120 of the filled positions are recruits that have not completed training, according to the police department. /end, The city says that interim Chief Patrick Lynn will remain to assist in the transition.. He seemed honest. 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. Provide a safe and orderly environment in our city through professionalism, dedication, an active partnership with the community and concern for individual dignity. Employment | Fort Lauderdale Police Department - FLPD Florida police chief fired over minority-first approach | WFLA - CBS 42 Fort Lauderdale Police Department | Home - FLPD 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 . NBC 6's Julie Leonardi reports, Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel). Chaplains | Fort Lauderdale Police Department - FLPD Fort Lauderdale police fired tear gas and rubber bullets during the protest, exacerbating to a chaotic and violent scene. FLPD Seeks to Identify Man Captured on Video Near Homicide Scene, Employee Recognition-Complaint Hotline 954-828-6956. Fort Lauderdale Police names Patrick Lynn chief. 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. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Fort Lauderdale has named its new 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. As of last month, it employed 690 officers out of an authorized strength of 939, leaving more than a quarter of sworn officer positions vacant. A city of Fort Lauderdale news release said the chief, Larry Scirotto, 48, was fired by City Manager Chris Lagerbloom on Thursday. Four who were not selected for promotion three men and one woman filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Scirotto had been accused of overlooking white. When sworn in as chief, Roln said he would prioritize officer wellbeing and pursue de-escalation and mass-casualty incident training for officers. The investigation also concluded almost every witness was dissatisfied, with Scirottos approach to promotions, and most believed that Chief Scirotto made clear his intention to promote based on race, gender or sexual orientation.. Protestors assemble outside Fort Lauderdale Police Department headquarters on Sept 27, 2020. 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. 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. Fort Lauderdale Interim Police Chief Stepping Down As Agency - WLRN Days after he was fired, the former police chief for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department is strongly denying allegations that he promoted officers based on their race, gender and sexual orientation. Scirotto also provided WFOR with what he said was context for his comments about the wall being too white.. 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. This past year, he was chosen to be one of the referees to officiate in the mens NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis. Fort Lauderdale names new police chief after tumultuous 2 years - WPLG Larry Scirotto who took over the Fort Lauderdale Police Department in August was fired by the city manager on Thursday, according to a press release. He comes to us at an important moment in law enforcement as departments nationwide work to ensure community trust and that everyone is treated equally and fairly in interactions with officers. He followed up with an email. A city of Fort Lauderdale news release said the chief, Larry Scirotto, 48, was fired by City Manager Chris Lagerbloom on Thursday. Karen Dietrich, 50, was chosen Thursday by Fort Lauderdale City Manager Chris Lagerbloom to lead the department as interim chief after Lagerbloom asked former chief Rick Maglione to step. Glassman says hes glad to see the city manager is not in a rush to name a new chief. March 4, 2022 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) A Florida police chief has been fired after only about six months on the job following an investigation into several discrimination complaints. 2. 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. Theyre ready to go, he said with a laugh. By November, the city had hired a law firm to investigate complaints. ", KY State Police Welcome Largest Cadet Class in Years. I want them to be competent and experienced and open minded and sensitive to the diversity of our community.. There are things we can do better. You dont know what hes going to bring, or what his vision is and how hes going to move the department forward.. RELATED: Fort Lauderdales interim police chief vows to reform troubled department, RELATED: Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione removed as officers face scrutiny over protest brutality. Aurora police chief semifinalist for Fort Lauderdale top cop job After a summer of searching, Key Biscayne's village manager has tapped Fort Lauderdale interim Assistant Police Chief Francis "Frank" Sousa to lead the . Willie Dennard, captain . Its an honor to be sought after by a bunch of punk thugs like you. After less than a year on the job, Fort Lauderdale's top cop is being fired after an investigation into employee complaints. Lagerbloom now has a new plan: appoint a new interim chief from outside the department who is not interested in the job. But retirement didnt last for long. The department is not broken, said the union president, Brandon Diaz. Local activists said OPDs reform under Roln has not gone far enough to address the needs of the community. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, From Haiti Through Liberty City to Top Federal Prosecutor in South Florida: the Unlikely Story of Markenzy Lapointe, Driver Arrested After Fleeing Margate Crash That Killed Mother, Hospitalized Toddler Last Month. Retiring Miami Police Chief speaks about his career - Fort Lauderdale Karen Dietrich, an assistant chief who came up through the ranks, took over as interim chief the same day Maglione was demoted. Maglione had been chief since 2016. Protestors assemble outside Fort Lauderdale Police Department headquarters on Sept 27, 2020. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Fort Lauderdale The search for a new police chief in Fort Lauderdale hasnt turned up enough good candidates, so City Manager Chris Lagerbloom plans to try again. The hosts on Drew Gerabo Live were left speculating what was happening when they could not reach the sheriff. Scirotto has a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Ashworth University and a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. Michael Ryan - Real Time Tactical Crime Analyst, Fort Lauderdale Police The department has about 530 officers and 179 civilian employees. Orlando police chief seeks to fill bigger role in South Florida - WESH By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our, sworn in as the agencys 39th police chief, send mental health professionals to certain calls, initiating outside reviews of the agency by police consultants, operating under the direction of Assistant Chief Karen Dietrich, City Manager Chris Lagerbloom demoted former Chief Rick Maglione. October 9, 2019. Maglione lost his job as chief five days after posting a public statement defending actions his officers took during a May 31 protest over the killing of Floyd in Minneapolis. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. Officers would be paid the salary they had when they left but wouldnt receive vacation time or any health, disability and retirement benefits. Fort Lauderdale Police Department. None of them were promoted because they were in a protected class, he said. 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. Fort Lauderdale hires new police chief to run department rocked by I reached out and asked if hed be willing to come out of retirement, and thankfully, he said yes. 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. El Paso Chief Dies After 15 Years Leading Department. "We are pleased to see that the city of Fort Lauderdale is taking allegations of discriminatory practices within the department seriously," Tonja Haddad Coleman said. In total, 21 witnesses, including the chief, gave a consistent narrative to investigators about Scirottos hiring and promotion practices, the report reads. He did talk about wanting to hire from outside to bring in fresh energy., [RELATED: Pop his ass. Bodycam videos show protesters throwing things at police. If I die on the hill for promoting diversity, as I was charged by the city manager to do from the day I was hired, then I will sleep well at night, he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. CurrieFriday afternoonsaid, I was really looking forward to the leadership that Chief Scirotto was going to bring." FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. The city of Fort Lauderdale has identified a sole finalist for its chief of police position. What would the optics have been on that?. Fort Lauderdale police chief fired over minority-first practices in He then rose through the ranks retiring as the citys Deputy Chief in 2007. said attorney Christina Currie, who used to head the Fort Lauderdale Citizens Investigative Panel. Orlando Police chief vying for position at Fort Lauderdale Police He wasnt all just talk, she said. Bill Schultz. Chief Scirotto emerged as the clear, sole finalist after a thorough year-long process in the search for a new leader of our department, Lagerbloom said in a statement. 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. 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. Dietrich, a veteran Fort Lauderdale cop who came up through the ranks, has applied for the permanent job. Mission Statement The list of semi-finalists represented a lot of talent both within and outside the department, Mayor Dean Trantalis said. Sheriff Thorntonposted a photo on Facebook of at least 17 unused patrol cars. Scirotto, 48, will make $200,000 a year overseeing the agencys 530 sworn officers and 179 civilians. I believe weve found that.. While I appreciate that respect, I strongly feel the playing field must be level for all candidates.. Scirotto told CNN Saturday the report that triggered his termination from the department was vague on the facts, and was largely based on hearsay. "I think our community was really excited changing the culture of what we had experienced here in our police department..