FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Fort Lauderdale has named its new Chief of Police. 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. Previous chief Rick Maglione was reassigned in July 2020. State police said a $15,000 salary increase for state polices sworn personnel had helped increase the number of officers in the agency. A list of eight semifinalists. The acting police chief will be Luis Alvarez, who is currently an assistant chief. But retirement didnt last for long. 2. Chief Lynn was a stabilizing figure last year during a period of transition for this department, Lagerbloom said. As for his law enforcement credentials, Scirotto was formerly the assistant police chief in Pittsburgh. Get updates on developing stories as they happen with our free breaking news email alerts. RELATED: Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione removed as officers face scrutiny over protest brutality. 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.. The Sun Sentinel reports the list of candidates includes Interim Chief Karen Dietrich,a veteran Fort Lauderdale officerwho came up through the ranks; Craig Capri, former chief in Daytona Beach; Todd Chamberlain, a former Los Angeles school police chief and retired commander with the Los Angeles Police Department; Jack John Dale, a former Fort Lauderdale police captain and former colonel with the Broward Sheriffs Office; John Pate, city manager and director of Public Safety for Opa-locka; Tomas Sanchez, former chief of the Hollywood Police Department; and Cecil Smith, police chief in Sanford. Scirotto did not return NBC 6's requests for comment. 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. Fort Lauderdale The search for a new police chief in Fort Lauderdale hasn't turned up enough good candidates, so City Manager Chris Lagerbloom plans to try again. There are just certain ways that you can do that and do it legally, and other ways that meet that muster.. The City of Fort Lauderdale is an Equal Opportunity Employer.-, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, 1300 W Broward Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 | Tel: 954-828-5700 | Internal Affairs: 954-828-6956 |Site Map, 2023 Fort Lauderdale Police Department | Created by Vision Internet Innovators of Online Government. Three of the semifinalists named by the City of Fort Lauderdale were internal: Interim Assistant Chief Frank Sousa, Maj. Dana Swisher and Capt. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Throughout the decades, he moved up to the rank of deputy chief in charge of the Central and Pebble Hills regional command centers. But in the fall, things turned sour when Scirotto promoted a list of minority employees. Among reforms Scirotto planned was to create a multi-cultural liaison unit to expand officers roles as liaisons to key groups that have traditionally been marginalized and undeserved. 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 . Starting Monday, April 4, Patrick Lynn will take over the department, announced Fort Lauderdale City Manager Chris . 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. Protestors assemble outside Fort Lauderdale Police Department headquarters on Sept 27, 2020. . I want to have a chief of police who honors the fact that public records are public. All rights reserved. "I want a great relationship with people in our community who havent had access in the past," Scirotto said at the time. If you want to take an organization somewhere, sometimes you have to look to the outside.. said attorney Christina Currie, who used to head the Fort Lauderdale Citizens Investigative Panel. Did you encounter any technical issues? I would rather see him take the time and do it right. Its a wait-and-see attitude, Diaz added. We must change our tactics, our strategy, our training and the way we are accountable to the public for our actions.. He joined Davies police department as chief soon after where he served until 2017. Attorney Christina Currie used to head the Ft. Lauderdale Citizens Investigative Panel which looked into complaints against officers. They called for racial justice in response to a grand jury decision in Louisville to charge one officer involved in the raid that killed Breonna Taylor. Dietrich has been in charge of the agencys 530 sworn officers and 179 civilians since July 9, when Lagerbloomdemoted Rick Maglionefrom chief to major. 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. Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan. March 4, 2022 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) A Florida police chief has been fired after only about six months on the job following an investigation into several discrimination complaints. Seven contenders are in line to lead Fort Lauderdales police department. While I appreciate that respect, I strongly feel the playing field must be level for all candidates.. Lagerbloom says some potential candidates are not applying out of respect for Dietrich. Police accused some protesters of throwing rocks, bricks and fireworks, arguing that warranted a strong response. Glassman says hes glad to see the city manager is not in a rush to name a new chief. The fact that hes an external candidate leaves some unknowns. 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. 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. The bottom row had several white males and one white female. We were looking for someone who would be a collaborative leader, both with the community and the rank and file. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Fort Lauderdale officials have indicated the city could rescind promotions made on Scirottos watch. 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. Fort Lauderdales now-former police chief has hit back at officials in the Florida city who fired him after just six months on the job, accusing him of focusing too heavily on a diversity policy in hiring and promotion. FLPD had been criticized for its handling of downtown protests on May 31 and the aftermath, but Lagerbloom said at the time that there wasnt one event that led to the change. Police say protesters started it all when they threw rocks, bricks and fireworks. Career Paths I reached out and asked if hed be willing to come out of retirement, and thankfully, he said yes. More , Click for details. News that a chief has finally been chosen was a relief to Fort Lauderdales police officers, said Detective Brandon Diaz, union president. 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. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, From Haiti Through Liberty City to Top Federal Prosecutor in South Florida: the Unlikely Story of Markenzy Lapointe, Driver Arrested After Fleeing Margate Crash That Killed Mother, Hospitalized Toddler Last Month. He wasnt all just talk, she said. Minutes later Sheriff Mike Chitwood responded that he was OK and explained what happened. Fort Lauderdale Police names Patrick Lynn chief. /end, The city says that interim Chief Patrick Lynn will remain to assist in the transition.. Top 10 Police Chief CandidatesSelect the candidates name to see their resume. 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. Lagerbloom,. 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. 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. Additionally, about 120 of the filled positions are recruits that have not completed training, according to the police department. 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. After a year of uncertainty, putting this behind us and being able to move forward is going to be a positive for everybody on the police department, Diaz said. I dont see the delay as something negative. El Paso Chief Dies After 15 Years Leading Department. The hosts on Drew Gerabo Live were left speculating what was happening when they could not reach the sheriff. Larry Scirotto is expected to join the department in mid-August, City Manager Chris Lagerbloom announced Tuesday. The investigation into the bias complaints noted that Scirotto once said a conference room wall of photos was "too white and said, Im gonna change that., Another time, when considering a promotion, the investigation found that Scirotto said which one is blacker? The report quoted Scirotto as saying he intended to "consider diversity at every opportunity., Theres everything we have to do in the proper way. [RELATED: Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione removed as officers face scrutiny over protest brutality]. (Adelaide Chen) Roln received criticism from some officers over the past year for pandering to the community in response to demands for reform and failing to support and defend officers against anti-police rhetoric, an officer survey showed. And I anticipate they will all step up and support the new chief.. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Starting Monday, April 4, Patrick Lynn will take over the department, announced Fort Lauderdale City Manager Chris Lagerbloom. Critics lambasted officers for firing tear gas and rubber bullets during what began as a peaceful protest. They called for racial justice in response to a grand jury decision in Louisville to charge one officer involved in the raid that killed Breonna Taylor. The Madison, WI, Police and Fire Commission voted Monday to stop requiring credit checks of prospective police officers. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. I want them to be competent and experienced and open minded and sensitive to the diversity of our community.. 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. The citys police department is now under the leadership of Acting Chief Luis Alvarez, the city said, and the selection process for a new chief is underway. In response to calls for racial justice and police reform over the past year, Roln helped usher in changes at OPD, including banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants, starting a pilot program to send mental health professionals to certain calls and initiating outside reviews of the agency by police consultants to assist with community engagement. Again, I go back to the fact that we support a very diverse organization," Lagerbloom said. Click for details on her case and to see how you can help. Other candidates vying for the Fort Lauderdale position come from similar leadership roles. 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. There would have been 12 white men, one white woman and two minorities if I had promoted as the complainants say I should have, Scirotto told the paper. Florida Gov. The job pays between $116,047 and $197,300 a year. Christina Currie, chair of the citizens police review board, says Lagerbloom picked the right guy to bring change to the department. He did talk about wanting to hire from outside to bring in fresh energy., [RELATED: Pop his ass. Bodycam videos show protesters throwing things at police. I dont want to second-guess the choice of the city manager, Trantalis said. 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. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. The other five are Dennis Jackson II, retired assistant chief for the Miami Police Department; Heather Morris, assistant chief for the Houston Police Department; Larry Scirotto, retired assistant chief for the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police; and Kristen Ziman, chief of the Aurora (Ill.) Police Department. Larry Scirotto, a former assistant police chief in Pittsburgh, has been tapped to lead the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Copyright 2022 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. The agency is down nearly 30 deputies. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Lagerbloom said it is a return to the department for Lynn, who served as Interim Chief in 2021. Karen Dietrich, an assistant chief who came up through the ranks, took over as interim chief the same day Maglione was demoted. [RELATED: Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione removed as officers face scrutiny over protest brutality]. 2023 Cable News Network. Robert Chabali, retired assistant chief in Dayton, Ohio. More , The City of Fort Lauderdale is an Equal Opportunity Employer.-, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, 1300 W Broward Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 | Tel: 954-828-5700 | Internal Affairs: 954-828-6956 |Site Map, 2023 Fort Lauderdale Police Department | Created by Vision Internet Innovators of Online Government. appreciated. The city manager is taking his time, Glassman said. It doesnt need fixing. But Scirotto warned that minority groups are now being treated as less than deserving. Dietrich, a veteran Fort Lauderdale cop who came up through the ranks, has applied for the permanent job. None of them were promoted because they were in a protected class, he said. The investigation also concluded almost every witness was dissatisfied, with Scirottos approach to promotions, and most believed that Chief Scirotto made clear his intention to promote based on race, gender or sexual orientation.. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Fort Lauderdale has named its new Chief of Police. Fort Lauderdale policefired tear gasand rubber bullets, contributing to a chaotic and violent scene. Larry Scirotto says he promoted minority candidates because they were exceptional not because they were minority. Get updates on developing stories as they happen with our free breaking news email alerts. This is a movement. (City of Fort Lauderdale/Courtesy). Some officers seem to revel in the return fire. That means Karen Dietrichs days as interim chief are numbered. In Pittsburgh, Scirotto came up with strategies to reduce and solve violent crimes. "I think our community was really excited changing the culture of what we had experienced here in our police department.. A city of Fort Lauderdale news release said the chief, Larry Scirotto, 48, was fired by City Manager Chris Lagerbloom on Thursday. He formerly served as a deputy chief in charge of OPDs Patrol Services Bureau, including during the shooting at Pulse nightclub in June 2016, and has held positions in most of the agencys departments over his career. Bill Schultz; retired Miami Assistant Chief Dennis Jackson; Chief Kristen Ziman from Aurora, Ill.; Orlando Chief Orlando Rolon; and Houston Assistant Chief Heather Morris. Scirotto had been accused of overlooking white. 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. Sheriff Thorntonposted a photo on Facebook of at least 17 unused patrol cars. Fort Lauderdale police fired tear gas and rubber bullets during the protest, exacerbating to a chaotic and violent scene. He came from a department that shared the most information on data and statistics.. After a summer of searching, Key Biscayne's village manager has tapped Fort Lauderdale interim Assistant Police Chief Francis "Frank" Sousa to lead the . Ron DeSantis was doing some of the recruitment himself on Monday. Larry Scirotto, a former assistant chief from Pittsburgh, will be taking the helm on Aug. 16. Lagerbloom now has a new plan: appoint a new interim chief from outside the department who is not interested in the job. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. If I die on the hill for promoting diversity, as I was charged by the city manager to do from the day I was hired, then I will sleep well at night, he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. By November, the city had hired a law firm to investigate complaints. 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. 10:25 PM EST, Sat March 5, 2022. Investigates both sworn and civilian public safety candidates, vendors, and other support candidates through in-person interviews. You dont know what hes going to bring, or what his vision is and how hes going to move the department forward.. Former Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Larry Scirotto is seen in this file photo from the Fort Lauderdale Police Dept. Bill Schultz. I wont allow them to tarnish the work that Ive done in the 24 years Ive been in this profession., In one example in the report, Scirotto is alleged to have overlooked a White man with 20 years tenure with the department, and instead narrowed the choice between two men of color, and asked, which one is blacker.. Willie Dennard, captain . Scirotto spent more than two decades as a police officer in Pittsburgh, and was initially welcomed in the Florida post as an outsider untouched by cronyism. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. 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. If youre a hardcore college basketball fan and that name sounds familiar, its because Scirotto also works as an NCAA referee. FLPD had been criticized for its handling of downtown protests. Documents obtained from city officials by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel earlier this month show three internal candidates under consideration for police chief and five police officials from across Florida and the nation. Ali Adamson, spokesperson for the Office of the Chief at FLPD, directed questions to the City of Fort Lauderdale, which did not respond to multiple requests Thursday. Larry Scirotto has been selected by the city manager to become Fort Lauderdale's next police chief. The department has about 530 officers and 179 civilian employees. After less than a year on the job, Fort Lauderdale's top cop is being fired after an investigation into employee complaints. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) A Florida police chief has been fired after only about six months on the job following an investigation into several . Fort Lauderdale The search for a new police chief in Fort Lauderdale hasnt turned up enough good candidates, so City Manager Chris Lagerbloom plans to try again. Staff reporter David Harris and reporter Susannah Bryan with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel contributed to this report. More , Click for details and safety tips. 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. "You came to the wrong county. Police union chiefs were cautious. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our, sworn in as the agencys 39th police chief, send mental health professionals to certain calls, initiating outside reviews of the agency by police consultants, operating under the direction of Assistant Chief Karen Dietrich, City Manager Chris Lagerbloom demoted former Chief Rick Maglione. Theyre ready for this process to be complete, Diaz said. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. 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. Four who were not selected for promotion three men and one woman filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Thats not the case, and it never was. He told CNN the report that triggered his termination from the department was vague on the facts. RELATED: Fort Lauderdales interim police chief vows to reform troubled department, RELATED: Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione removed as officers face scrutiny over protest brutality. He has the respect and support of the command staff and the rank and file. Kentucky now has 899 state troopers, which is an increase of about 22% compared to their staffing level in November 2021. 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. In 2020, Lynn stepped into a former role as Davies police chief after Dale Engle resigned. Damned if you do, damned if you dont. Chief Scirotto brings extensive experience with a background in patrol, investigative and administrative assignments. NBC 6's Julie Leonardi reports, Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. CurrieFriday afternoonsaid, I was really looking forward to the leadership that Chief Scirotto was going to bring." Local activists said OPDs reform under Roln has not gone far enough to address the needs of the community.