Know the Facts
There are important questions surrounding the future of public safety services provided by the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO). After an independent, nationally recognized salary study identified significant compensation gaps and the need for salary increases to help BSO recruit and retain qualified public safety professionals, BSO sought additional funding to address those needs. The City of Deerfield Beach agreed to the requested salary increases, while the Broward County Commission declined BSO's countywide funding request. Both then moved forward with studies examining the feasibility of transitioning public safety services away from BSO and creating new departments. Those studies found that creating new departments would be more expensive than continuing services through BSO. As the discussion continues, an important question remains: Is this really about saving taxpayer dollars, or is there something more at stake?
Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony is committed to transparency and believes the people of Broward County deserve to understand the facts behind these decisions and what they could mean for public safety. Sheriff Dr. Tony is actively working to ensure public safety decisions affecting this community are based on facts, responsible use of taxpayer dollars and what best protects the people we serve. BSO will continue to provide highly trained, nationally accredited public safety services while advocating for the fair compensation necessary to recruit and retain the professionals who provide them.
Click the links below to get the facts:
BROWARD COUNTY
DEERFIELD BEACH
Know The Facts Broward County
The Broward County Commission is considering significant changes to public safety services currently provided by BSO, including creating two independent police departments at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades and potentially bringing Fire Rescue under County control.
BSO has provided law enforcement services at Port Everglades since 1991 and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport since 1996, and the County has contracted with BSO to provide countywide Fire Rescue services since 2003.
The County paid nearly $200,000 for two feasibility studies for new police departments at the airport and seaport, with a third study potentially underway for Fire Rescue. While the two studies found that transitions are feasible, they also projected significantly higher costs and identified services, personnel and resources that are not included in the proposed models. These include ancillary and administrative services, specialized response capabilities and other services BSO currently provides. At Port Everglades, the study specifically identified Marine Patrol as a unique critical service while leaving unanswered who would provide it after a transition.
The decision by the county to pursue feasibility studies came in response to BSO requesting $73 million in additional countywide funding to address a documented compensation gap and retain the more than 5,400 men and women already providing public safety services. The proposed airport and Port Everglades transitions, by comparison, are projected to cost approximately $440 million over the transition period for 207 employees.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Cost Comparison |
| This is Transparency: BSO Audit
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Know The Facts Deerfield Beach
For more than 35 years, BSO has proudly served the people of Deerfield Beach. BSO has consistently acted in good faith with the city and its elected officials and remains committed to reaching a mutually agreeable path forward. Sheriff Dr. Tony believes the people of Deerfield Beach deserve a public safety partnership that provides exceptional service, protects first responders and uses taxpayer dollars responsibly. BSO remains committed to that partnership and to continuing to serve the city.
On September 15, 2025, the Deerfield Beach Commission voted to adopt the budget proposal for BSO police and fire services outlined in Option 1 below. The following day, BSO sent the city a letter formally rescinding the Notice of Termination previously issued on June 20, 2025. View the timeline below to learn more about the events and discussions between the city and BSO regarding police and fire services.
An independent poll of Deerfield Beach residents was also conducted regarding BSO's contract with the city. The results showed overwhelming support for BSO and strong support for renewing the city's contract with BSO for police and fire services. View the poll results below.
Explore the items below to learn more about BSO's commitment to Deerfield Beach and the facts surrounding the future of police and fire services.
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VALUE ADDED SERVICES
With BSO, you get more than you pay for! All municipal cities who contract with BSO for public safety services receive significant support and services as value added services. Services include administrative support, human resources and information technology, purchasing, finance and budget, risk management, legal services, training and other response services. Click here for a list of a list of more value added services.
Identified $216,900 in savings by deferring non-essential projects, plus offered to use $400,000 in Law Enforcement Trust Funds or state appropriations to support city projects.
Combine projects deferrals with savings from vacant positions, totaling $896,752 in reduction to the city while keeping service levels intact and lowering costs.
A responsible reorganization plan cutting $1.6 million from the contract without reducing service quality while also creating long-term efficiencies for future savings to the city.
BSO has offered multiple solutions to the city – from immediate savings to long-term efficiencies – always with the focus on protecting residents, maintaining excellence in service and being a true partner to the city. Considering all offers, the difference is less than a 1% increase, which is inclusive of the necessary salary adjustments and additional comprehensive services and specialized support provided by BSO.
Review the false FDLE Investigative Report filed by the City Manager alleging threats were made by the Sheriff. FDLE closed out the case indicating no "direct overt threat" was made and "no criminal predicate exists" to initiate a criminal investigation.
FDLE Report Case EI 73 8745 IR 27.pdf
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| Deerfield BSO-Recind-Letter-to-City-Manager-Brimlow-09162025.pdf | Download |
| Deerfield Consideration_Letter_05-01-25_Option_1.pdf | Download |
| Deerfield Consideration_Letter_07-23-25_Option_2.pdf | Download |
| Deerfield Consideration_Letter_08-14-25_Option_3.pdf | Download |
| Deerfield FDLE-Report-Case-EI-73-8745-IR-27.pdf | Download |
| Deerfield Know_the_Facts_False_vs_Facts_Flyer.pdf | Download |
| Deerfield Letter-Center-for-Public-Safety-Inc-Transition-Feasibiity-Study- Imminent Public-Safety-Threats.pdf | Download |
| Deerfield-Beach-Transition-Mailer_0426.pdf | Download |