Broward Mayor Mark Bogen on Friday announced that the county will launch an investigation into spending by the Broward Sheriff’s Office, starting with a series of public-records requests for a detailed account of how the law enforcement agency is spending its money.
The announcement is the third escalation in a week of a feud between the nine members of the Broward County Commission and Sheriff Gregory Tony, who have reached an impasse on the ability to be in the same room, much less conduct meaningful discussions about spending priorities and public safety.
At a news conference in the commission meeting room Friday, Bogen accused Tony of opening his deputies’ training facility to his personal friends’ use, diverting money from law enforcement to gym amenities including massage tables, a spa and a cold plunge, and repeatedly “lying” to the public in videos posted to his professional social media pages.
The county’s investigation will take place through the County Auditor’s office, which will attempt to obtain the requested information from the Sheriff’s Office. If the agency does not fulfill the requests, Bogen said he’s prepared to take the sheriff to court.
Bogen also vowed to visit the gym at the sheriff’s training facility on Monday to see for himself how public money is being spent.
Tony responded to Bogen’s threat with a jab aimed at a statewide prosecutor’s investigation into the county. “Mayor Bogen is welcomed to file a false complaint to the Statewide Prosecutor or Florida Department of Law Enforcement at any time,” Tony said. “Their contact names and numbers are located on the last page of the criminal subpoena he received this past September.”
In a video posted later in the afternoon, Tony said he keeps “every receipt” on spending at the training center, which had been audited two years ago.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office Research, Development and Training Center was built under Tony’s leadership between 2021 and 2024 at a cost that more than doubled from $34 million to $73 million.
It is located on the same property as the sheriff’s headquarters at the intersection of Broward Boulevard and Northwest 27th Avenue.
Also appearing at the news conference was Walter Dix, a high-ranking union official and former Broward County Fire Rescue captain.
Earlier this week, Tony released a letter to the public signed by 25 high-ranking fire rescue chiefs represented by the union. “Any changes carry real-world consequences for readiness, coordination and interoperability,” the letter said. “We have confidence in Sheriff Tony and in the leadership of the Broward Sheriff’s Office.”
Dix said many of the signatures were not voluntary.
“He has put an undue amount of stress on our employees,” said Dix, vice president of the district of the International Association of Fire Fighters that represents Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. He said Tony called the employees into his office and “directed” them to sign the letter. “All of the individuals who signed that letter are at-will employees,” meaning they can be fired at the sheriff’s discretion, Dix said.
Dix also said Tony has put all IAFF union officers who currently work for Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue under investigation by internal affairs, ordering them not to speak about the issue to anyone but their lawyers.
Tony did not respond to Dix’s allegations.
The Broward County Commission has voted in recent weeks to strip the Sheriff’s Office of its responsibility for Broward County Fire Rescue (reestablishing it as a county-run agency after 2028). The commission also has been looking into the possibility of creating a new law enforcement agency at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades.
The County Commission also is weighing whether to remove responsibility for the regional 911 emergency communications system from the sheriff’s control.
Tony has accused the commission of shortchanging his office as he tries to secure funding for raises to keep deputies from leaving the agency for nearby jobs with higher pay.
Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457.