Recently, the city of Pompano Beach released a comprehensive study by the Raftelis company evaluating the financial, operational and public safety implications of establishing a stand-alone police department.
The report is more than 150 pages and presents clear findings: Creating a department capable of providing the same or similar services currently delivered by the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) would cost at least $24 million more annually. It also projects a total cost $145.6 million for a recommended new police station and capital expenditures. Overall, Raftelis estimates a two-year transition to a stand-alone department would cost approximately $231 million more than remaining with BSO, or $215 million excluding facility costs.
Gregory Tony is sheriff of Broward County. (courtesy, Broward Sheriff’s Office, photography by Cliff Frommer)
Raftelis stated its purpose was to equip city leadership with the information necessary for informed and transparent discussions about the future of public safety in Pompano Beach. I commend the City Commission for undertaking this level of due diligence and for prioritizing a careful, fact-based decision-making process that prioritizes the safety of more than 120,000 residents.
Public safety is the most fundamental responsibility of municipal government. It should be guided by data and long-term fiscal responsibility, not politics.
By contrast, the city of Deerfield Beach moved forward earlier this year with plans to establish its own police and fire departments based on a 13-page feasibility study completed in just 60 days. That study projected more than $1 billion in savings over 20 years and estimated that both departments could be established for under $31 million.
These figures are significantly inconsistent from prior analyses conducted for similarly sized cities and raise serious concerns among public safety professionals and residents alike. The study failed to meet the comprehensive industry standard reflected in the Pompano Beach Raftelis report. During his presentation to the Deerfield Beach Commission, the author of the report said it was not a full report. Thus, it is only fair to question how any decision can be made based on this report when the author admits it is not complete. The findings in the Pompano Beach report further call those projections into question.
I shared these concerns directly with the Deerfield Beach City Commission and offered both a two-year extension of the BSO contract and funding for an independent study of the Commission’s choosing to allow for a more thorough evaluation. That offer was declined, and on Jan. 20, the Commission voted to proceed. Nearly a month later, limited details have been provided regarding implementation costs or funding sources, creating uncertainty around a decision that affects nearly 93,000 Deerfield Beach residents.
Both cities publicly acknowledged that their exploration of alternatives to BSO services was driven primarily by cost considerations rather than service quality. The men and women of BSO take pride in the level of service they provide. Effective public safety requires thoughtful investment, disciplined management and long-term planning. It is not an area where shortcuts can be taken.
BSO remains committed to working collaboratively with municipal partners to deliver reliable, professional public safety services at a competitive cost. Our focus will always be the safety of the communities we serve — placing people above politics. I hope our municipal partners will do the same.
Gregory Tony is sheriff of Broward County.