The city of Fort Lauderdale has fired its police chief Larry Scirotto, who has been in office for less than a year, following allegations of discriminatory practices for promotions. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. The bottom row had several white males and one white female. Christina Currie, chair of the citizens police review board, says Lagerbloom picked the right guy to bring change to the department. DeSantis spoke at an invitation-only event at an Elmhurst banquet hall - encouraging Chicago Police officers to leave Illinois and come work at departments in Florida. The department is not broken, said the union president, Brandon Diaz. Scirotto told CNN Saturday the report that triggered his termination from the department was vague on the facts, and was largely based on hearsay. He came in as the department was dealing with backlash from incidents during protests after George Floyds murder in Minneapolis. Hes also a masters degree candidate in Organizational Development and Leadership at Saint Josephs University. Unlike the shorter police academies, future officers serve as apprentices or cadets for a two-to-three-year program involving comprehensive learning through years of field experience and classroom instruction. They were promoted because they were the best candidates.. FLPD Seeks to Identify Man Captured on Video Near Homicide Scene, Employee Recognition-Complaint Hotline 954-828-6956. According to the job posting, the ideal candidate will be interpersonal and culturally sensitive; ethical and of high integrity; a supporter, coach and mentor; and a diplomatic, prudent and highly effective conflict manager. Michelle Solomon, Podcast Producer/Reporter. Dietrich, a veteran Fort Lauderdale cop who came up through the ranks, has applied for the permanent job. Office of the Chief | Fort Lauderdale Police Department Font Size: About FLPD Office of the Chief Units of the Office of the Chief of Police The Media Relations Unit, Staff Inspections/ Accreditation Unit, and the Office of Internal Affairs are the three main components of the Office of the Chief. The list of semi-finalists represented a lot of talent both within and outside the department, Mayor Dean Trantalis said. Scirotto, a former assistant chief in Pittsburgh, was the first openly gay chief hired in Fort Lauderdale and also is from a mixed-race background. Some believed it was about time changes were made, but stated if promotions were based on things such as race it would even hurt or undermine the people promoted, the report said. Police Chief Jorge Colina will walk out of the downtown Miami police headquarters for the final time on Friday. I think this gives the city manager more breathing room to find someone suitable to lead the department. This is a movement. Gainesville, FL, Disbands K-9 Unit Over Arrestee Losing Eye, IL Deputy Dies After Medical Event During Training, New TASER 10 Will Require Training for Seasoned Officers, Brinc Announces Next Generation of Lemur Drone, Michigan State Police Helicopter Fired On, Suspect Killed by Troopers on Ground, 11 Inspirational Quotes to Boost Police Morale in Trying Times, VA Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Chiefs to Set Curfews During Unrest, The bill if signed into law would empower local law enforcement chiefs to impose curfews for up to 24 hours if there is an imminent threat of any civil commotion or disturbance in the nature of a riot which constitutes a clear and present danger., Newsweek: Apprenticeships Would Improve Police Training. A list of eight semifinalists for the open chief position provided by the City of Fort Lauderdale lists Roln among its candidates, and Orlando Police Department spokesperson Autumn Jones confirmed Thursday that Roln is in a selection process for the position. The department has about 530 officers and 179 civilian employees. Updated Vice Mayor Steve Glassman later described the entire scene as a horror show, saying it was hard to watch the police body camera footage recorded that day. Lagerbloom now has a new plan: appoint a new interim chief from outside the department who is not interested in the job. Scirotto told CNN he promoted 15 people from August to November, and of that group, six were ethnic or gender minorities selected for promotions based on their merit. The promotions I made of minority candidates were because they were exceptional candidates who excelled at every level of the organization, who deserved to be promoted and who were, by the way, happened to be minority not because they were minority., Scirotto was sworn-in as police chief in mid-August last year. /end, The city says that interim Chief Patrick Lynn will remain to assist in the transition.. Fort Lauderdale's police chief has been fired after only about six months on the job following an investigation into complaints that he made hiring and promotion decisions with an improper minority-first approach. "We serve a very diverse community and thats important. I want to have a chief of police who honors the fact that public records are public. The Office of the Chief is also responsible for the overall management and operation of the Support Services Bureau, the Investigations Bureau and the Operations Bureau. Chief Greg Allen joined the El Paso Police Department in 1978, starting off patrolling Central and the West Side. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Fort Lauderdale has named its new Chief of Police. The job pays between $116,047 and $197,300 a year. Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Employee Recognition-Complaint Hotline 954-828-6956. Glassman says hes glad to see the city manager is not in a rush to name a new chief. Officials told reporters they anticipated narrowing the list to four by mid-June. Lagerbloom has not said just what prompted the move, but Maglione posted a public statement on July 4 defending the actions his officers took during a May 31 protest over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. We wanted someone who can shepherd this department into a new era of policing, build trust and keep the needs of our diverse community at the forefront. That was the day Lagerbloom demoted longtime chief Rick Maglione to major as protests over the police killing of George Floyd swept the nation. Additionally, about 120 of the filled positions are recruits that have not completed training, according to the police department. Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan. Speaking to CNN affiliate WFOR, Scirotto said the investigation was built on hearsay, and lacked testimony, transcript and audio. Scirotto joined the department after the Fort Lauderdale police were hit by accusations of internal turmoil and use of excessive force after officers fired rubber bullets and teargas into a crowd protesting the 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, which sparked civil rights protests across the country and internationally. Scirotto denied asking which candidate was blacker when deciding on the promotion, but admitted to making comments about the wall being too white, because he felt it was not reflective of the community, according to the report. I believe weve found that.. He also reorganized the Violent Crime Unit by combining homicide, aggravated assault and robbery investigations into a single unit to prioritize crimes against people. Minutes later Sheriff Mike Chitwood responded that he was OK and explained what happened. He spent 23 years in the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and was the youngest assistant chief in that departments history. He came from a department that shared the most information on data and statistics.. Larry Scirotto is sworn in as the new chief of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department by Chief Judge Jack Tuter on 24 August 2021, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Make no mistake weve had events occur in our police department in the last month, but I can tell you theres not been one event that has been the decision-making event, Lagerbloom said in July. We were looking for someone who would be a collaborative leader, both with the community and the rank and file. Karen Dietrich, 50, was chosen Thursday by Fort Lauderdale City Manager Chris Lagerbloom to lead the department as interim chief after Lagerbloom asked former chief Rick Maglione to step. I reached out and asked if hed be willing to come out of retirement, and thankfully, he said yes. Three of the semifinalists named by the City of Fort Lauderdale were internal: Interim Assistant Chief Frank Sousa, Maj. Dana Swisher and Capt. He wasnt all just talk, she said. The acting police chief will be Luis Alvarez, who is currently an assistant chief. But in an interview with Miamis 7News, Scirotto denied that he had made promotions based on minority-status. I have to be that visible leader, leading from the front, leading by example.. 10:25 PM EST, Sat March 5, 2022. Four officers three white and one Hispanic filed EEOC complaints alleging that the chief was promoting unfairly. [RELATED: Fort Lauderdales interim police chief vows to reform troubled department], Unfortunately, the current recruitment process did not produce a finalist list that contained enough candidates to continue moving it forward, Lagerbloom wrote. That appointment will likely happen in the next couple weeks, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said Monday. Maglione had been chief since 2016. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has been primarily operating under the direction of Assistant Chief Karen Dietrich since July, when City Manager Chris Lagerbloom demoted former Chief. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. said attorney Christina Currie, who used to head the Fort Lauderdale Citizens Investigative Panel. Scirotto has a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Ashworth University and a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. Theyre ready to go, he said with a laugh. Some believed it was about time changes were made, but stated if promotions were based on things such as race it would even hurt or undermine the people promoted, the report said. Top 10 Police Chief CandidatesSelect the candidates name to see their resume. College Degrees Designed for Police Officers, Best Practices for Active Shooter Response and Police Training, The Tennessee Department of Public Safety Increased Visibility, Accountability and Accuracy with Inventory Management Software Designed Specifically for Law Enforcement, DC Mayor Taps Veteran Metro Officer as Next Police Chief, After Murders of Officers in Charlotte Area NC Chiefs Ask Governor to Condemn Attacks on Police, CA Sheriff Defies Judge's Order to Release Violent Inmates Over COVID, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Chief Tests Positive for COVID-19, Chicago Police Superintendent Announces Resignation. Scirotto did not return NBC 6's requests for comment. As of last month, it employed 690 officers out of an authorized strength of 939, leaving more than a quarter of sworn officer positions vacant. Fort Lauderdale officials have indicated the city could rescind promotions made on Scirottos watch. "You came to the wrong county. Units of the Office of the Chief of Police. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. RELATED: Pop his ass. Bodycam videos show protesters throwing things at police. Receive the latest law enforcement in-depth information, news and products. I want them to be competent and experienced and open minded and sensitive to the diversity of our community.. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. Fort Lauderdale's police chief has been fired after only about six months on the job following an investigation into complaints that he made hiring and promotion decisions with an improper. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. The new chief came to town. Seven contenders are in line to lead Fort Lauderdales police department. NC Sheriff Provides Community Photo Evidence of Deputy Shortage. Our officers deserve some stability, which theyre finally going to get., Larry Scirotto, a former assistant police chief in Pittsburgh, has been tapped to lead the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Larry Scirotto is expected to join the department in. The city ultimately decided to cut ties with Scirotto, who did not have a contract with the city and will not be receiving a severance, city spokesperson Stephen Gollan told CNN. The report concluded that most believed that Chief Scirotto made clear his intention to promote based on race, gender or sexual orientation and that almost every witness was dissatisfied with Scirottos approach to promotions. Police say protesters started it all when they threw rocks, bricks and fireworks. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) Tallahassee's Community Partners Committee narrowed the list of candidates for the city's new chief of police from 17 names to 10 names. Roln has worked with the Orlando Police Department since 1992 and was sworn in as the agencys 39th police chief in 2018. He started making positive changes that would impact the whole community in a more positive direction than we had been in," community activist Jackie Scott said. He plans to stay onboard for awhile to help with the transition, Lagerbloom said. That sense of urgency is not lost on Lagerbloom, who met with the union last week to give them an update on the search. Lagerbloom, charged with hiring the citys new top cop, also wants to name a new interim chief to level the playing field. I believe to build trust and legitimacy in any organization, the trust is earned, he said. Days after he was fired, the former police chief for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department is strongly denying allegations that he promoted officers based on their race, gender and sexual orientation. Engle came under fire after he suggested that a Broward Sheriffs Office deputys death from COVID-19 was linked to his sexuality. But the former police chief has said he plans to maintain his position on the issue. The agency is down nearly 30 deputies. Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Ron DeSantis was doing some of the recruitment himself on Monday. Dietrich has been overseeing the agencys 530 sworn officers and 179 civilians since July 9, when Lagerbloom demoted Rick Maglione from chief to major. When asked about his approach to promotions, Scirotto told investigators he was going to consider diversity at every opportunity, and he had to be intentional in his decision-making process. Now, he is in the running to take the top cop job, down south.The city of Fort Lauderdale sent WESH 2 News a list of semi-finalists for its police chief position and Rolon is in the running . Atlanta-Area Agency Facing Critical Officer Shortage. Starting Monday, April 4, Patrick Lynn will take over the department, announced Fort Lauderdale City Manager Chris Lagerbloom. It cited 21 witnesses on Scirottos hiring and promotion practices. More , Click for details and safety tips. But retirement didnt last for long. Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Larry Scirotto has been fired for prioritizing minority candidates during the hiring process, reported CNN. For nearly a year, Fort Lauderdale's troubled police department has been without a permanent leader, with two different interim chiefs taking over while a national search was underway. As chief, Scirotto promises to bring accountability to the department and to treat everyone fairly. What would the optics have been on that?. Larry Scirotto, 48, the son of a white mother and Black father and the departments first openly gay chief, was fired last Thursday after a city report related examples such as how he had once pointed to a display of photos of the departments command staff in a conference room and said: That wall is too white and Im gonna change that.. During the search, we learned that there might be several additional candidates who were interested in the position but chose not to apply out of respect for the interim chief. I wont allow them to tarnish my reputation. Larry Scirotto who took over the Fort Lauderdale Police Department in August was fired by the city manager on Thursday, according to a press release. He holds a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Ashworth University and is a masters degree candidate in Organizational Development and Leadership from Saint Josephs University. Lagerbloom made his pick from a list of eight semi-finalists that included three internal candidates: Fort Lauderdales Assistant Chief Frank Sousa, Maj. Dana Swisher and Capt. Police accused some protesters of throwing rocks, bricks and fireworks, arguing that warranted a strong response. By November, the city had hired a law firm to investigate complaints. Larry Scirotto has been selected by the city manager to become Fort Lauderdale's next police chief. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. All Rights Reserved. Attorney Christina Currie used to head the Ft. Lauderdale Citizens Investigative Panel which looked into complaints against officers. The Media Relations Unit, Staff Inspections/ Accreditation Unit, and the Office of Internal Affairs are the three main components of the Office of the Chief. The report followed several. And were talking in conversation as it relates to our community and the expectation of a diverse and inclusive organization. Police union chiefs were cautious. As a leader, I will be visible and engaged with the community and the officers. . Bill Schultz; retired Miami Assistant Chief Dennis Jackson; Chief Kristen Ziman from Aurora, Ill.; Orlando Chief Orlando Rolon; and Houston Assistant Chief Heather Morris. Fort Lauderdale Police names Patrick Lynn chief. Lynn has been in law enforcement for 35 years beginning as began as a patrol officer with the City of Pembroke Pines Police Department in 1982. FL Sheriff Calls Anti-Semitic Group "Scumbags, Says He's Honored to be On Their Hit List, "These scumbags came to the wrong county," Volusia County Sheriff, Mike Chitwood, said. (Adelaide Chen) None of them were promoted because they were in a protected class, he said. 2023 Cable News Network. Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman is in the running to become chief of police in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to Fort Lauderdale city officials. A 23-year veteran with the Pittsburgh department, Scirotto retired in January 2018 and moved to Dallas two years later. Lagerbloom also chose Scirotto the youngest assistant chief in the history of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for his extensive background in patrol work and experience with investigative and administrative assignments. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Protestors assemble outside Fort Lauderdale Police Department headquarters on Sept 27, 2020. Sheriff Thorntonposted a photo on Facebook of at least 17 unused patrol cars. The report said that Scirotto had responded that the context of his comment had been built around how do I convince the community that we are an inclusive and diverse organization if this wall is so white?.