Investigates both sworn and civilian public safety candidates, vendors, and other support candidates through in-person interviews. OPD referred further questions to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. If promoting diversity is the hill Im going to die on, I will sleep well tonight, he said. Lagerbloom, charged with hiring the citys new top cop, also wants to name a new interim chief to level the playing field. That means Karen Dietrichs days as interim chief are numbered. That appointment will likely happen in the next couple weeks, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said Monday. Larry Scirotto, a former assistant police chief in Pittsburgh, has been tapped to lead the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. I think this gives the city manager more breathing room to find someone suitable to lead the department. /end, The city says that interim Chief Patrick Lynn will remain to assist in the transition.. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. 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. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Lagerbloom says some potential candidates are not applying out of respect for Dietrich. Lagerbloom also chose Scirotto the youngest assistant chief in the history of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for his extensive background in patrol work and experience with investigative and administrative assignments. 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. He has the respect and support of the command staff and the rank and file. Discovery Company. Roln has worked with the Orlando Police Department since 1992 and was sworn in as the agencys 39th police chief in 2018. The city manager is taking his time, Glassman said. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. Updated: Mar 7, 2022 / 05:51 AM EST. More , Click for details. A city of Fort Lauderdale news release said the chief, Larry Scirotto, 48, was fired by City Manager Chris Lagerbloom on Thursday. Scirotto did not return NBC 6's requests for comment. 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. 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. Mission Statement State police said a $15,000 salary increase for state polices sworn personnel had helped increase the number of officers in the agency. 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. 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. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. The city of Fort Lauderdale has identified a sole finalist for its chief of police position. Get updates on developing stories as they happen with our free breaking news email alerts. Atlanta-Area Agency Facing Critical Officer Shortage. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. Thats not the case, and it never was. He told CNN the report that triggered his termination from the department was vague on the facts. 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. Throughout the decades, he moved up to the rank of deputy chief in charge of the Central and Pebble Hills regional command centers. I dont see the delay as something negative. 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. 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. They are trained in Critical Incident Stress Symptoms and Management as well as Fort Lauderdale Police Policies and Procedures. He spent 23 years in the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and was the youngest assistant chief in that departments history. 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. He then rose through the ranks retiring as the citys Deputy Chief in 2007. Fort Lauderdale For nearly a year, Fort Lauderdales troubled police department has been without a permanent leader, with two different interim chiefs taking over while a national search was underway. Make no mistake weve had events occur in our police department in the last month, but I can tell you theres not been one event that has been the decision-making event, Lagerbloom said in July. Bill Schultz; retired Miami Assistant Chief Dennis Jackson; Chief Kristen Ziman from Aurora, Ill.; Orlando Chief Orlando Rolon; and Houston Assistant Chief Heather Morris. Fort Lauderdales new chief happens to be a fitness enthusiast and collegiate basketball referee. 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. 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. 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. 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.. He turns 63 in October of this year the mandatory retirement age for Chicago police officers. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has been without a permanent leader since July 9. I have no allegiance to anyone there, which means everyone will be measured on their own merit. When sworn in as chief, Roln said he would prioritize officer wellbeing and pursue de-escalation and mass-casualty incident training for officers. CurrieFriday afternoonsaid, I was really looking forward to the leadership that Chief Scirotto was going to bring." As for his law enforcement credentials, Scirotto was formerly the assistant police chief in Pittsburgh. 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.. Protestors assemble outside Fort Lauderdale Police Department headquarters on Sept 27, 2020. I wont allow them to tarnish my reputation. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel). CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Unlike the shorter police academies, future officers serve as apprentices or cadets for a two-to-three-year program involving comprehensive learning through years of field experience and classroom instruction. He wasnt all just talk, she said. "I think our community was really excited changing the culture of what we had experienced here in our police 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. The fact that hes an external candidate leaves some unknowns. Police accused some protesters of throwing rocks, bricks and fireworks, arguing that warranted a strong response. Minutes later Sheriff Mike Chitwood responded that he was OK and explained what happened. It cited 21 witnesses on Scirottos hiring and promotion practices. Scirotto said he has obtained legal counsel and is planning on filing a wrongful termination lawsuit against the city. Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale has hired a new police chief just 19 days after the firing of former Chief Larry Scirotto. Fort Lauderdale policefired tear gasand rubber bullets, contributing to a chaotic and violent scene. It doesnt need fixing. Other candidates vying for the Fort Lauderdale position come from similar leadership roles. Fort Lauderdale Police Department. I see it as him taking the time to make sure the right person gets hired. The hosts on Drew Gerabo Live were left speculating what was happening when they could not reach the sheriff. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. The acting police chief will be Luis Alvarez, who is currently an assistant chief. (Adelaide Chen) Three of the semifinalists named by the City of Fort Lauderdale were internal: Interim Assistant Chief Frank Sousa, Maj. Dana Swisher and Capt. 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. 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. He said a mix of emotions will come over him as he finishes his last week on. The departments rank and file are eager to see a new leader named, said Detective Brandon Diaz, police union president. 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?. 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. But in the fall, things turned sour when Scirotto promoted a list of minority employees. 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. Lagerbloom now has a new plan: appoint a new interim chief from outside the department who is not interested in the job. WI Agency Ends Credit Checks for Recruits. Photograph: Amy Beth. Protestors assemble outside Fort Lauderdale Police Department headquarters on Sept 27, 2020. 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. Critics lambasted officers for firing tear gas and rubber bullets during what began as a peaceful protest. Again, I go back to the fact that we support a very diverse organization," Lagerbloom said. Get updates on developing stories as they happen with our free breaking news email alerts. Click for details on her case and to see how you can help. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. 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. Kentucky now has 899 state troopers, which is an increase of about 22% compared to their staffing level in November 2021. I support his decision. I want them to be competent and experienced and open minded and sensitive to the diversity of our community.. [RELATED: Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione removed as officers face scrutiny over protest brutality]. A Warner Bros. NC Sheriff Provides Community Photo Evidence of Deputy Shortage. Career Paths 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. Police say protesters started it all when they threw rocks, bricks and fireworks. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. Fort Lauderdales now-former police chief has hit back at officials in the Florida city who fired him after just six months on the job, accusing him of focusing too heavily on a diversity policy in hiring and promotion. And I anticipate they will all step up and support the new chief.. He is the first Latino to hold the position. Florida Gov. 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. Scirotto will be making the move from Dallas to Fort Lauderdale with his two American bulldogs, Charlie and Linus. 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. Det. Police union chiefs were cautious. But Scirotto warned that minority groups are now being treated as less than deserving. I would rather see him take the time and do it right. 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. Larry Scirotto is expected to join the department in mid-August, City Manager Chris Lagerbloom announced Tuesday. Scirotto denied asking which candidate was blacker when deciding on the promotion, but admitted to making comments about the wall being too white, because he felt it was not reflective of the community, according to the report. He came from a department that shared the most information on data and statistics.. Copyright 2022 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. 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. They were promoted because they were the best candidates.. But in an interview with Miamis 7News, Scirotto denied that he had made promotions based on minority-status. 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. Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Larry Scirotto has been fired for prioritizing minority candidates during the hiring process, reported CNN. 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. [RELATED: Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione removed as officers face scrutiny over protest brutality]. Glassman says hes glad to see the city manager is not in a rush to name a new chief. Four officers three white and one Hispanic filed EEOC complaints alleging that the chief was promoting unfairly. The bottom row had several white males and one white female. The city ultimately decided to cut ties with Scirotto, who did not have a contract with the city and will not be receiving a severance, city spokesperson Stephen Gollan told CNN. 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. Chief Lynn was a stabilizing figure last year during a period of transition for this department, Lagerbloom said. Larry Scirotto says he promoted minority candidates because they were exceptional not because they were 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. 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. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. 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. 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. Officers would be paid the salary they had when they left but wouldnt receive vacation time or any health, disability and retirement benefits. Glenn Sapp - Chief of Police for the Quincy Police Department since 2014, and the Assistant Chief from 2011 until then. As I see it, this is a fresh start for everybody, including the internal leadership team, he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Soon after being hired, Scirotto promoted 15 officers nine were white men, six were minorities through ethnicity or gender. The job pays between $116,047 and $197,300 a year. Its a wait-and-see attitude, Diaz added. Scirotto, 48, will make $200,000 a year overseeing the agencys 530 sworn officers and 179 civilians. The department is not broken, said the union president, Brandon Diaz. 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. ", KY State Police Welcome Largest Cadet Class in Years. Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman is in the running to become chief of police in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to Fort Lauderdale city officials. (Photo courtesy of City of Fort Lauderdale), its handling of downtown protests on May 31 and the aftermath. After a year of uncertainty, putting this behind us and being able to move forward is going to be a positive for everybody on the police department, Diaz said. Scirotto was sworn-in as police chief in mid-August, and the city had hired a law firm by November to investigate complaints of discrimination before he was fired on Thursday, according to a copy of the law firms report obtained by CNN. If youre a hardcore college basketball fan and that name sounds familiar, its because Scirotto also works as an NCAA referee. RELATED: Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione removed as officers face scrutiny over protest brutality. 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. RELATED: Pop his ass. Bodycam videos show protesters throwing things at police. As a leader, I will be visible and engaged with the community and the officers. Dietrich has been in charge of the agencys 530 sworn officers and 179 civilians since July 9, when Lagerbloomdemoted Rick Maglionefrom chief to major. Top 10 Police Chief CandidatesSelect the candidates name to see their resume. 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