Pompano Beach commissioners move to stick with BSO: ‘A no-brainer’

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — Pompano Beach will not be breaking up with the Broward Sheriff’s Office ― at least not for now.

Read more BSO: Suspect detained following fatal stabbing in Pompano Beach

Leer en español

While its northern neighbor, Deerfield Beach, is ending its relationship with BSO and reconstituting its own police and fire departments, Pompano Beach commissioners moved forward on Tuesday towards renewing their policing contract with the sheriff’s office.

A research firm said building and staffing an in-house Pompano Beach Police Department, which existed until 1999 when it was disbanded and folded into BSO, would cost more than $100 million and take nearly three years.

Officials said the vote to renew the contact doesn’t preclude Pompano Beach, the largest city in Broward County ― and possibly the state ― without a municipal police force, from going its own way in the future.

The city’s contract with BSO was expiring soon. The new three-year agreement with BSO will cost $70 million yearly.

“I think it’s a no-brainer,” Commissioner Darlene Smith said. “It’s got a 90-day get-out clause for either side and it just makes a lot of sense to protect our community.”

She added, “To start a new police force, it’s going to be a lot of work, and it’s probably going to take three years.”

Read more Doctor facing manslaughter charge after woman dies during treatment

Speakers at Tuesday’s commission meeting largely favored sticking with BSO.

“We’ve listened to the residents, and I think we still need to do a little more work on a comprehensive, long-term strategy for our city,” Pompano Beach Vice Mayor Alison Fournier said.

Sheriff Gregory Tony was also at the meeting, reinforcing the suggestion that an immediate decision not to renew with BSO would be unwise.

But Tony said if Pompano Beach does decide to create its own force down the road ― as Deerfield Beach and Pembroke Park have ― they have his support.

“We will make sure we do it the right way,” he said. “We will provide the transitional services that are needed.”

Tuesday’s vote was for a first reading of the new contract; a final vote still needs to happen, likely at the end of July.

One commissioner suggested waiting to see how the Deerfield Beach Police Department, slated to come back by September 2027, pans out before Pompano Beach considers having its own municipal force again.

Read more FBI searching for Miami Lakes bank robber