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. 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. 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. Lagerbloom, charged with hiring the citys new top cop, also wants to name a new interim chief to level the playing field. Florida Gov. "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. 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 Commission said the measure was being taken in a step to increase diversity in the department. WI Agency Ends Credit Checks for Recruits. Did you encounter any technical issues? As for his law enforcement credentials, Scirotto was formerly the assistant police chief in Pittsburgh. Officers would be paid the salary they had when they left but wouldnt receive vacation time or any health, disability and retirement benefits. The acting police chief will be Luis Alvarez, who is currently an assistant chief. Scirotto told CNN he promoted 15 people from August to November, and of that group, six were ethnic or gender minorities selected for promotions based on their merit. 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 Rick Maglione over statements defending the agencys response to citywide protests for racial justice. appreciated. The report followed several. Theyre ready for this process to be complete, Diaz said. Speaking to CNN affiliate WFOR, Scirotto said the investigation was built on hearsay, and lacked testimony, transcript and audio. 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. But the former police chief has said he plans to maintain his position on the issue. Updated 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. Seven contenders are in line to lead Fort Lauderdales police department. 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. Now, he is in the running to take the top cop job, down south.The city of Fort Lauderdale sent WESH 2 News a list of semi-finalists for its police chief position and Rolon is in the running . Protestors assemble outside Fort Lauderdale Police Department headquarters on Sept 27, 2020. Michelle Solomon, Podcast Producer/Reporter. We must change our tactics, our strategy, our training and the way we are accountable to the public for our actions.. There are just certain ways that you can do that and do it legally, and other ways that meet that muster.. 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. We want to really have a police department that is focused on 21st century modern policing, Lagerbloom said. Soon after being hired, Scirotto promoted 15 officers nine were white men, six were minorities through ethnicity or gender. 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. In Pittsburgh, Scirotto came up with strategies to reduce and solve violent crimes. Updated: Mar 7, 2022 / 05:51 AM EST. Scirotto will be making the move from Dallas to Fort Lauderdale with his two American bulldogs, Charlie and Linus. 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. Lagerbloom says some potential candidates are not applying out of respect for Dietrich. Four who were not selected for promotion three men and one woman filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. RELATED: Pop his ass. Bodycam videos show protesters throwing things at police. 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. That appointment will likely happen in the next couple weeks, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said Monday. Fort Lauderdale officials have indicated the city could rescind promotions made on Scirottos watch. 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. Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale has hired a new police chief just 19 days after the firing of former Chief Larry Scirotto. 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. 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. 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. NBC 6's Julie Leonardi reports, Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. 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.. Glenn Sapp - Chief of Police for the Quincy Police Department since 2014, and the Assistant Chief from 2011 until then. That means Karen Dietrichs days as interim chief are numbered. I believe weve found that.. Its a wait-and-see attitude, Diaz added. A 23-year veteran with the Pittsburgh department, Scirotto retired in January 2018 and moved to Dallas two years later. Scirotto did not return NBC 6's requests for comment. 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. A city of Fort Lauderdale news release said the chief, Larry Scirotto, 48, was fired by City Manager Chris Lagerbloom on Thursday. 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. City Manager Chris Lagerbloom has announced former Pittsburgh Assistant Chief Larry Scirotto as the sole finalist for Chief of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. The Madison, WI, Police and Fire Commission voted Monday to stop requiring credit checks of prospective police officers. But in the fall, things turned sour when Scirotto promoted a list of minority employees. As I see it, this is a fresh start for everybody, including the internal leadership team, he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. 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. October 9, 2019. Protestors assemble outside Fort Lauderdale Police Department headquarters on Sept 27, 2020. And were talking in conversation as it relates to our community and the expectation of a diverse and inclusive organization. Copyright 2022 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. He came in as the department was dealing with backlash from incidents during protests after George Floyds murder in Minneapolis. If you want to take an organization somewhere, sometimes you have to look to the outside.. The hosts on Drew Gerabo Live were left speculating what was happening when they could not reach the sheriff. Humane Society of Broward County Kicks Off VCA Walk for the Animals in Fort Lauderdale, BSO Searching forMissing 11-Year-Old Girl From Pompano Beach, Miami-Dade Mayor, State Attorney Announce New Measures to Protect HOA Residents, Check Your Change! Investigates both sworn and civilian public safety candidates, vendors, and other support candidates through in-person interviews. I see it as him taking the time to make sure the right person gets hired. 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. Local activists said OPDs reform under Roln has not gone far enough to address the needs of the community. Lagerbloom says he made his choice partly based on the positive feedback Scirotto got from both police and the community including religious leaders, NAACP officials and Fort Lauderdales citizens police review board. Karen Dietrich, an assistant chief who came up through the ranks, took over as interim chief the same day Maglione was demoted. When sworn in as chief, Roln said he would prioritize officer wellbeing and pursue de-escalation and mass-casualty incident training for officers. The agency is down nearly 30 deputies. 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. 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. "I want a great relationship with people in our community who havent had access in the past," Scirotto said at the time. 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. [RELATED: Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione removed as officers face scrutiny over protest brutality]. Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman is in the running to become chief of police in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to Fort Lauderdale city officials. Its too important., Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4554 or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan. 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. Kentucky now has 899 state troopers, which is an increase of about 22% compared to their staffing level in November 2021. 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?. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has been without a permanent leader since July 9. He wasnt all just talk, she said. 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. Click for details on her case and to see how you can help. 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. Theyre ready to go, he said with a laugh. Bill Schultz. The department has about 530 officers and 179 civilian employees. 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. The job pays between $116,047 and $197,300 a year. Chicago Losing Officers to Florida Agencies. CurrieFriday afternoonsaid, I was really looking forward to the leadership that Chief Scirotto was going to bring." Throughout the decades, he moved up to the rank of deputy chief in charge of the Central and Pebble Hills regional command centers. 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. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Fort Lauderdale has named its new Chief of Police. 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. In 2020, Lynn stepped into a former role as Davies police chief after Dale Engle resigned. Larry Scirotto says he promoted minority candidates because they were exceptional not because they were minority. FLPD Seeks to Identify Man Captured on Video Near Homicide Scene, Employee Recognition-Complaint Hotline 954-828-6956. Three of the semifinalists named by the City of Fort Lauderdale were internal: Interim Assistant Chief Frank Sousa, Maj. Dana Swisher and Capt. They are trained in Critical Incident Stress Symptoms and Management as well as Fort Lauderdale Police Policies and Procedures. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Luis Cabrera, deputy chief in Miami. ]. Lagerbloom,. 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. 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. A Warner Bros. Engle came under fire after he suggested that a Broward Sheriffs Office deputys death from COVID-19 was linked to his sexuality. 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. 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. In total, 21 witnesses, including the chief, gave a consistent narrative to investigators about Scirottos hiring and promotion practices, the report reads. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Minutes later Sheriff Mike Chitwood responded that he was OK and explained what happened. Again, I go back to the fact that we support a very diverse organization," Lagerbloom said. 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. I dont want to second-guess the choice of the city manager, Trantalis said. Mission Statement The department is not broken, said the union president, Brandon Diaz. But Scirotto warned that minority groups are now being treated as less than deserving. 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. 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. Chief Scirotto brings extensive experience with a background in patrol, investigative and administrative assignments. 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.. In February, Dietrich announced she planned to step down from the role. Police say protesters started it all when they threw rocks, bricks and fireworks. City Manager Chris Lagerbloom, who embarked on two. 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. I would rather see him take the time and do it right. Fort Lauderdale The search for a new police chief in Fort Lauderdale hasn't turned up enough good candidates, so City Manager Chris Lagerbloom plans to try again. More FLPD Seeks to Identify Man Captured on Video Near Homicide Scene 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. Scirotto spent more than two decades as a police officer in Pittsburgh, and was initially welcomed in the Florida post as an outsider untouched by cronyism. 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. 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.. Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Employee Recognition-Complaint Hotline 954-828-6956. He spent 23 years in the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and was the youngest assistant chief in that departments history. The city manager is taking his time, Glassman said. If youre a hardcore college basketball fan and that name sounds familiar, its because Scirotto also works as an NCAA referee. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Dietrich, a veteran Fort Lauderdale cop who came up through the ranks, has applied for the permanent job. The fact that hes an external candidate leaves some unknowns. He seemed honest. You dont know what hes going to bring, or what his vision is and how hes going to move the department forward.. 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. We were looking for someone who would be a collaborative leader, both with the community and the rank and file. 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. 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. Units of the Office of the Chief of Police. Many believed that Chief Scirotto made clear his intention to promote, based on race, gender, or sexual orientation," Lagerbloom said. Fort Lauderdale Police Department at City of Fort Lauderdale 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. Willie Dennard, captain . 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. Discovery Company. Bill Schultz; retired Miami Assistant Chief Dennis Jackson; Chief Kristen Ziman from Aurora, Ill.; Orlando Chief Orlando Rolon; and Houston Assistant Chief Heather Morris. This is a movement. By choosing Scirotto, Lagerbloom rejected three internal candidates who were among the semi-finalists. 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. What would the optics have been on that?. Ron DeSantis was doing some of the recruitment himself on Monday. That was the day Lagerbloom demoted longtime chief Rick Maglione to major as protests over the police killing of George Floyd swept the nation. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel). More , Click for details. Lagerbloom said it is a return to the department for Lynn, who served as Interim Chief in 2021. Fort Lauderdale police fired tear gas and rubber bullets during the protest, exacerbating to a chaotic and violent scene. That sense of urgency is not lost on Lagerbloom, who met with the union last week to give them an update on the search. [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. Its an honor to be sought after by a bunch of punk thugs like you. The new chief came to town. If promoting diversity is the hill Im going to die on, I will sleep well tonight, he said. After less than a year on the job, Fort Lauderdale's top cop is being fired after an investigation into employee complaints. 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.. 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.