Sheriff Gregory Tony's Initiatives
Sheriff Gregory Tony is committed to making the Broward Sheriff’s Office the most professional and inclusive public safety agency in South Florida. As Sheriff, he is prioritizing progressive community-oriented policing initiatives combined with increased training and intelligence-led policing. Take a look at some of the positive ways Sheriff Gregory Tony is changing the Broward Sheriff’s Office to better serve YOU.
SHOP TALK WITH THE
SHERIFF PODCAST
In this podcast series,
Sheriff Gregory Tony takes listeners inside BSO, discussing topics like police
reform, mental health, internet safety for children, and initiatives designed
to enhance community trust. Click below to listen to each episode or subscribe
to the podcast on your favorite podcast app such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or
Google Podcasts.
Click below to listen to some episode highlights:
- All Episodes
- Police Reformand Its Importance to the Community
- Social Justice Task Force
- Protect Your Children from Online Predators
- It’s OK to Not be OK
- Increase Accountability and Transparency at the Broward Sheriff’s Office
- Use of Force Review Board
SHERIFF GREGORY TONY'S PILLARS OF BSO
A video series intended to give you an inside look at the important work BSO has been doing to better serve and protect the Broward Community. Click below to watch each individual video.
PILLARS OF BSO: Full Video
PILLAR 1: Promoting from Within
PILLAR 2: Accountability & Transparency
PILLAR 3: Serving the Broward Community
PILLAR 4: Training and Preparedness
PILLAR 5: Recruiting
PILLAR 6: School Safety and Technology
SHERIFF GREGORY TONY'S INITIATIVES
OPERATION HELPING HANDS
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to tough
financial difficulties, resulting in many households struggling to provide the
most basic food necessities for their families. BSO understands this difficulty
and has established Operation
Helping Hands whereby we routinely partner with community-based
organizations to provide groceries to those in need.
In collaboration with Feeding South Florida
and other community partners, BSO's Neighborhood Support Team
(NST) has been focused on delivering meals to seniors who are unable to
leave their homes and establishing food distribution sites to serve Broward
residents in need of assistance during this time.
Since establishing Operation Helping Hands, NST has
distributed more than 16 million pounds of food countywide
and has delivered more than 4,000 individual meals to
seniors in our community. In an unprecedented
effort to continue to serve those in need, Sheriff Gregory Tony has committed
$100,000 from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund to facilitate the distribution
of 700,000 meals for all Broward County residents suffering during the
COVID-19 pandemic. This is the largest single feeding distribution effort in
BSO history.
BSO YOUTH L.E.A.D. CAMP
The BSO Youth L.E.A.D. Camp (Learning, Educating And Developing) is an innovative 8-week summer program that helps develop Broward County youth into strong, responsible and civically-engaged adults. In partnership with community-based organizations, the program mentors youth ages 10-18 and focuses on instilling the following Pillars of Success:
- Education
- Life Skills
- Career Development
- Financial Literacy
- Community Service
- Government/Civic Responsibility
- Health and Wellness
The road to responsible adulthood and future success begins by exposing youth to positive values and role models. Program goals include:
- Fostering stronger relationships with Broward County youth.
- Preparing Broward County youth to become leaders of tomorrow.
- Exposing Broward County youth to the vast industries available to them.
- Becoming responsible citizens.
- Giving them the skills needed to live a safe and productive life.
- Exposing them to the workings of their government and what their civic responsibilities are as citizens at the local, state and national level.
- Engaging youth in community service projects.
- Teaching youth conflict resolution skills.
For more information, please contact Major Kevin Granville: Kevin_Granville@sheriff.org or Ciara_Bostick@sheriff.org or click here.
ACCOUNTABILITY & TRANSPARENCY
Since becoming sheriff, Sheriff Tony has made
significant changes within BSO to build public trust by bringing accountability
and transparency to this agency and to this community.
Today, BSO deputies are held accountable for their actions. Sheriff
Tony has made it very clear that egregious use of force will not be tolerated
under his leadership.
Sheriff Tony also appointed new members
to the Professional Standards Committee, which includes minority members
from the community, to review internal disciplinary matters and established a Use of Force Review Board, the first ever in BSO’s
history.
We continue to ensure we are hiring the
right people, including more minorities and women, and are providing them with
the appropriate training.
In addition, every deputy in our
department continues to be trained in de-escalation techniques along with safe
arrest methods. Sheriff Tony is also allocating more than $1 million to implement
racial equity and implicit bias training programs.
Further, all Department of Law Enforcement deputies have body worn
cameras and are required to activate them prior to any interaction with
civilians.
BSO ON YOUR BLOCK: Park, Walk and Talk Initiative
Sheriff Gregory Tony is committed to strengthening relationships between law enforcement and all of our Broward communities.
In August 2019, Sheriff Tony launched the BSO Park, Walk and Talk initiative. "Our deputies will be parking their cars, walking the neighborhoods and talking with residents and businesses," Sheriff Tony said. "In addition to our community events, foot and bike patrols and other programs, this is another chance for us to talk to you in your neighborhood."
At BSO, we want to hear about community concerns to determine how we are better able to assist. "We must respect our communities, and our residents must be able to trust and respect their law enforcement," Sheriff Tony said.
BSO is in compliance with the eight policies outlined in the #8CANTWAIT campaign.
