Parkland has made its decision: It’ll keep the Broward Sheriff’s Office as its law enforcement provider despite the widespread criticism the agency drew last year over its response to the Stoneman Douglas massacre.
The city is heeding the advice of the Center for Public Safety Management, a Washington, D.C.-based consultant hired by the city in June 2018 for about $99,000.
The consultant recommended that the Sheriff’s Office is the city’s best option, and officials will have a news conference at 2 this afternoon to formally announce their decision, a city spokesman said.
The consultant, which presented its findings this week, suggested staying with the Sheriff’s Office, now under new leadership, because “we were impressed with their apparent understanding of the many challenges facing the agency and their commitment to make significant changes in the way the organization operates.”
Parkland is currently in discussions with the Sheriff’s Office to renew the current agreement, which expires Oct. 1.
Florida Gov. DeSantis suspended Broward Sheriff Scott Israel shortly after taking office in January, accusing the sheriff of “neglect of duty” and “incompetence” related Stoneman Douglas massacre, as well as the January 2017 mass shooting at the Fort Lauderdale airport. And DeSantis on Jan. 11 announced Gregory Tony was taking the reins, offering a new chapter in the agency’s history.
The city-hired consultant’s research included interviewing residents, several of whom “identified a generalized sense of ‘complacency’ among citizens living in Parkland prior to the February 2018 shooting at Stoneman Douglas High. One person stated that ‘the police didn’t seem present, they still don’t.’ Several individuals suggested that this feeling of complacency extended to the BSO deputies assigned to Parkland as well.”
In addition to the city keeping the Sheriff’s Office, the consultant considered two other options: The city could have contracted for police services with Coral Springs, which already provides fire and paramedic services. Or, it could again create the Parkland Police Department, which once existed — from 1968 to 2004.
“It is difficult to overemphasize the challenges of creating a new police department,” the consultants wrote. “Not only is it difficult to attract and retain applicants, but also the recruitment of a Police Chief with experience in creating a new police department would be a challenge.”