As a leader, I will be visible and engaged with the community and the officers. 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?. Luis Cabrera, deputy chief in Miami. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. As chief, Scirotto promises to bring accountability to the department and to treat everyone fairly. Chicago Losing Officers to Florida Agencies. In February, Dietrich announced she planned to step down from the role. Units of the Office of the Chief of Police. Local activists said OPDs reform under Roln has not gone far enough to address the needs of the community. 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. 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.. Chief Greg Allen joined the El Paso Police Department in 1978, starting off patrolling Central and the West Side. If youre a hardcore college basketball fan and that name sounds familiar, its because Scirotto also works as an NCAA referee. Larry Scirotto, a former assistant chief from Pittsburgh, will be taking the helm on Aug. 16. He said a mix of emotions will come over him as he finishes his last week on. 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. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. 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. Fort Lauderdale police fired tear gas and rubber bullets during the protest, exacerbating to a chaotic and violent scene. Officer Shortage Has LAPD Asking Retirees to Come Back. Starting Monday, April 4, Patrick Lynn will take over the department, announced Fort Lauderdale City Manager Chris . Roln has worked with the Orlando Police Department since 1992 and was sworn in as the agencys 39th police chief in 2018. But the former police chief has said he plans to maintain his position on the issue. In Pittsburgh, Scirotto came up with strategies to reduce and solve violent crimes. The department has about 530 officers and 179 civilian employees. I have a vision for the department, Scirotto said at the time. 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. He also reorganized the Violent Crime Unit by combining homicide, aggravated assault and robbery investigations into a single unit to prioritize crimes against people. I dont see the delay as something negative. [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 is the first Latino to hold the position. Officials told reporters they anticipated narrowing the list to four by mid-June. There are just certain ways that you can do that and do it legally, and other ways that meet that muster.. Click for details on her case and to see how you can help. If you want to take an organization somewhere, sometimes you have to look to the outside.. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Some officers seem to revel in the return fire. According to the job posting, the ideal candidate will be interpersonal and culturally sensitive; ethical and of high integrity; a supporter, coach and mentor; and a diplomatic, prudent and highly effective conflict manager. By November, the city had hired a law firm to investigate complaints. Scirotto said he has obtained legal counsel and is planning on filing a wrongful termination lawsuit against the city. 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. Dietrich has been overseeing the agencys 530 sworn officers and 179 civilians since July 9, when Lagerbloom demoted Rick Maglione from chief to major. 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. He came in as the department was dealing with backlash from incidents during protests after George Floyds murder in Minneapolis. 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. 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. Top 10 Police Chief CandidatesSelect the candidates name to see their resume. I think this gives the city manager more breathing room to find someone suitable to lead the department. Dietrich has been in charge of the agencys 530 sworn officers and 179 civilians since July 9, when Lagerbloomdemoted Rick Maglionefrom chief to major. The Sun Sentinel reports the list of candidates includes Interim Chief Karen Dietrich,a veteran Fort Lauderdale officerwho came up through the ranks; Craig Capri, former chief in Daytona Beach; Todd Chamberlain, a former Los Angeles school police chief and retired commander with the Los Angeles Police Department; Jack John Dale, a former Fort Lauderdale police captain and former colonel with the Broward Sheriffs Office; John Pate, city manager and director of Public Safety for Opa-locka; Tomas Sanchez, former chief of the Hollywood Police Department; and Cecil Smith, police chief in Sanford. Soon after being hired, Scirotto promoted 15 officers nine were white men, six were minorities through ethnicity or gender. FL Sheriff Chases After Suspect During Radio Interview. 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. Office of the Chief | Fort Lauderdale Police Department Font Size: About FLPD Office of the Chief Units of the Office of the Chief of Police 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. State police said a $15,000 salary increase for state polices sworn personnel had helped increase the number of officers in the agency. Mission Statement Fort Lauderdale's police chief has been fired after only about six months on the job following an investigation into complaints that he made hiring and promotion decisions with an improper minority-first approach. Critics lambasted officers for firing tear gas and rubber bullets during what began as a peaceful protest. Updated 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. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. 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. El Paso Chief Dies After 15 Years Leading Department. Speaking to CNN affiliate WFOR, Scirotto said the investigation was built on hearsay, and lacked testimony, transcript and audio. Police say protesters started it all when they threw rocks, bricks and fireworks. A list of eight semifinalists. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. [RELATED: Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione removed as officers face scrutiny over protest brutality]. The bottom row had several white males and one white female. All FLPD Police Chaplains are duly ordained or licensed by a recognized religious institution with ecclesiastical authority and support. 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. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. Get updates on developing stories as they happen with our free breaking news email alerts. I wont allow them to tarnish my reputation. 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. "You came to the wrong county. In 2020, Lynn stepped into a former role as Davies police chief after Dale Engle resigned. He joined Davies police department as chief soon after where he served until 2017. 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. Florida Gov. CurrieFriday afternoonsaid, I was really looking forward to the leadership that Chief Scirotto was going to bring." 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. After a summer of searching, Key Biscayne's village manager has tapped Fort Lauderdale interim Assistant Police Chief Francis "Frank" Sousa to lead the . Lagerbloom now has a new plan: appoint a new interim chief from outside the department who is not interested in the job. Gainesville, FL, Disbands K-9 Unit Over Arrestee Losing Eye, IL Deputy Dies After Medical Event During Training, New TASER 10 Will Require Training for Seasoned Officers, Brinc Announces Next Generation of Lemur Drone, Michigan State Police Helicopter Fired On, Suspect Killed by Troopers on Ground, 11 Inspirational Quotes to Boost Police Morale in Trying Times, VA Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Chiefs to Set Curfews During Unrest, The bill if signed into law would empower local law enforcement chiefs to impose curfews for up to 24 hours if there is an imminent threat of any civil commotion or disturbance in the nature of a riot which constitutes a clear and present danger., Newsweek: Apprenticeships Would Improve Police Training. But Scirotto warned that minority groups are now being treated as less than deserving. Chief Scirotto brings extensive experience with a background in patrol, investigative and administrative assignments. The Sun Sentinel reports the list of candidates includes Interim Chief Karen Dietrich, a veteran Fort Lauderdale officer who came up through the ranks; Craig Capri, former chief in Daytona Beach; Todd Chamberlain, a former Los Angeles school police chief and retired commander with the Los Angeles Police Department; Jack "John" Dale, a former Fort He wasnt all just talk, she said. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. 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. 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. Fort Lauderdale's police chief has been fired after only about six months on the job following an investigation into complaints that he made hiring and promotion decisions with an improper. Attorney Christina Currie used to head the Ft. Lauderdale Citizens Investigative Panel which looked into complaints against officers. 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. 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. I believe to build trust and legitimacy in any organization, the trust is earned, he said. Orlando Roln, the city's police chief, smiles at the families who came out to the 9th Annual Dragon Parade on Sun, Feb. 9, 2020. Police union chiefs were cautious. Lagerbloom,. They were promoted because they were the best candidates.. 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.