Broward commissioners had their first discussion Tuesday about a consultant’s report on the feasibility of replacing the Broward Sheriff’s Office with a new police force at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
The report, released to the public Monday, shows the county could remove the Broward Sheriff’s Office and create a new department under the auspices of the Broward County Aviation Department. Startup costs would be significant, and over the first four years it would cost more than $85 million above the projected cost of staying the course with the Sheriff’s Office.
Commissioners at a workshop on Tuesday said they were intrigued by the report, from the consulting company Jensen Hughes, but there are too many unanswered questions to start making plans.
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony and his agency have consistently defended its record against criticism from various cities, including Pembroke Park and Deerfield Beach, which both have voted to switch to independent police forces.
County Commissioners Alexandra Davis and Hazelle Rogers openly wondered why the issue was under consideration when no one was complaining about the quality of service provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
And Commissioner Steven Geller said it could be a good idea in the long run, but not enough information has been provided. Commissioners had asked Broward County Administrator Monica Cepero to expand the Jensen Hughes study to include Port Everglades, and the consensus at Tuesday’s meeting was to hold off on considering the subject until the consultants added the seaport to their calculations.
“If there is the will to do this, it would only make sense to” include the findings on Port Everglades, Cepero said.
No date has been set to hear back from the consultant on Port Everglades.
Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457.