Broward County can afford \u2014 in the long run \u2014 to cut ties with the Broward Sheriff\u2019s Office to provide security at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, according to a county-sanctioned study sent to government officials Monday. The county could move such responsibilities to the Broward County Aviation Department, the study said.<\/p>\n
The report by the consulting company Jensen Hughes comes after two cities have cut ties with the Broward Sheriff\u2019s Office and a third<\/a>, Pompano Beach, is considering making the same move.<\/p>\n Jensen Hughes was asked to look at the financial wisdom of pulling the Sheriff\u2019s Office out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and replacing it with a new security force. The consultant was also asked to look at security concerns at Port Everglades<\/a>, but the report issued to commissioners Monday did not address that issue.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were asked to assess the feasibility of implementing a fully functioning public safety agency serving the FLL airport,\u201d the report\u2019s authors wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cOur assessment identifies it is feasible for Broward County Aviation Department to establish its own independent law enforcement agency,\u201d the consultants concluded. \u201cThe BCAD team, at all levels, demonstrated a significant level of knowledge and pride in their efforts to maintain a secure operating environment at FLL (the airport).\u201d<\/p>\n Over four years, the consultants found it would cost the county more than $85 million to sever ties with the Sheriff\u2019s Office. \u201cThis illustration is intended to identify that it is feasible to transition to an independent law enforcement agency,\u201d the consultant found. \u201cHowever, there is a financial risk that requires full evaluation.\u201d<\/p>\n The Broward County Commission will meet on Tuesday to review the report\u2019s findings and start discussing how to address its ongoing relationship with the Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n