Broward Sheriff Responds to Chauvin Verdict

After former Broward Sheriff Scott Israel (D) stepped down due to overwhelming criticism over inaction during the Parkland shooting in 2018, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony (D) replaced him, vowing to reform the Broward Police Department. Since then,  Sheriff Tony has embraced transparency while attempting to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and Florida residents.

Moreover, this week saw the conclusion of the trial regarding the death of George Floyd. With Derek Chauvin’s guilty verdict that could result in him facing 40 years in prison, the Broward Sheriff has released a statement, reminding officers “who wear a badge that we are not above the laws which we swore to protect.”

With the announcement of Chauvin being found guilty on all three charges against, Tony affirmed that “for the majority of law enforcement officials in this country, this doesn’t come as a surprise.” He shared that “Chauvin’s lack of empathy, compassion, and his brutality set off a firestorm across the world but moved the consciousness of America like never before.” 

As a result, the Broward Sheriff wished for nothing more than for the trial to “bring about continued positive change, social justice and equitable judicial outcomes for all people.” 

“At the Broward’s Sheriff Office,” Tony expressed, asserting that they intend to “remain a national leader in police reform.” The Department is “committed to continuing to strengthen relationships and increase trust between law enforcement and the many diverse communities we serve.”

Last year, the Sheriff released an advertisement titled “Accountable: I Fired the Bad Cops,” which details how he fired two deputies for using excessive force.

Jerrick Grant, Tony’s campaign manager, commented on the work that Tony has done while in office, saying that the Sheriff has “made it his greatest priority to make this office better serve our community by taking on police brutality – firing bad cops, and instituting new de-escalation, racial equity, and bias training, along with diversifying the command staff and providing better equipment.”