Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony defended himself Wednesday against accusations that he violently threatened the Deerfield Beach City Manager Rodney Brimlow, accusations that have forced the city’s attempt to negotiate a contract with the Sheriff’s Office to take a decided back seat to a political dispute.
Tony disputed the allegation that he threatened to “run over” Brimlow if the two encountered each other in public, and he challenged Brimlow’s assertion that he did not file an official complaint with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
FDLE in investigating the threat allegation, Tony said. The sheriff also released a recording of the meeting that did not contain such a threat. “I record all our roll calls for this specific moment,” Tony said at a news conference Wednesday.
A statement released by Brimlow on Monday evening denied making “false” accusations against Tony, and a city spokeswoman said FDLE was already aware of the alleged threats before Brimlow contacted FDLE, making his complaint unnecessary.
At his news conference, Tony portrayed the feud as an effort by the city to avoid paying deputies what they deserve to patrol Deerfield Beach.
Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Threads.net/@rafael.olmeda
This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
Originally Published: