Receive the latest law enforcement in-depth information, news and products. Michelle Solomon, Podcast Producer/Reporter. 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. Scirotto said he has obtained legal counsel and is planning on filing a wrongful termination lawsuit against the city. Officer Shortage Has LAPD Asking Retirees to Come Back. The report said Scirotto once pointed to a conference room wall displaying photos of the departments command staff and stated, that wall is too white, and Im gonna change that.. Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Larry Scirotto has been fired for prioritizing minority candidates during the hiring process, reported CNN. Scirotto, 48, will make $200,000 a year overseeing the agencys 530 sworn officers and 179 civilians. Bill Schultz. The department has about 530 officers and 179 civilian employees. Robert Chabali, retired assistant chief in Dayton, Ohio. Fort Lauderdale Interim Police Chief Stepping Down As Agency - WLRN CNN obtained a copy of the report that also said Scirotto had overlooked a white man with 20 years tenure with the department, and instead narrowed the choice for a job between two men of color, and asked: Which one is blacker?. The previous chief Rick Maglione was reassigned in July. Ron DeSantis was doing some of the recruitment himself on Monday. He wasnt all just talk, she said. Lagerbloom made his pick from a list of eight semi-finalists that included three internal candidates: Fort Lauderdale's Assistant Chief Frank Sousa, Maj. Dana Swisher and Capt. I support his decision. (Adelaide Chen) Florida police chief fired over discriminaton issues | AP News Retired cop from Pittsburgh tapped to lead Fort Lauderdale Police Larry Scirotto has been selected by the city manager to become Fort Lauderdale's next police chief. Fort Lauderdale Police Department at City of Fort Lauderdale 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. That was the day Lagerbloom demoted longtime chief Rick Maglione to major as protests over the police killing of George Floyd swept the nation. Michael Ryan - Real Time Tactical Crime Analyst, Fort Lauderdale Police The tactics used by a few officers to discredit the promotions of Black and minority officers with masters degrees, stellar reputations, and exemplary work history, are nothing short of appalling," Cecil Stone, the head of the Fort Lauderdale Black Police Association, previously wrote. Updated We must change our tactics, our strategy, our training and the way we are accountable to the public for our actions.. Orlando police chief withdraws candidacy for top job at Fort Lauderdale (Photo courtesy of City of Fort Lauderdale), its handling of downtown protests on May 31 and the aftermath. I want to have a chief of police who honors the fact that public records are public. Chief Lynn was a stabilizing figure last year during a period of transition for this department, Lagerbloom said. Scirotto will be making the move from Dallas to Fort Lauderdale with his two American bulldogs, Charlie and Linus. If promoting diversity is the hill Im going to die on, I will sleep well tonight, he said. Seven contenders are in line to lead Fort Lauderdales police department. 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. As I see it, this is a fresh start for everybody, including the internal leadership team, he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. We were looking for someone who would be a collaborative leader, both with the community and the rank and file. Larry Scirotto is expected to join the department in mid-August, City Manager Chris Lagerbloom announced Tuesday. 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. Some officers seem to revel in the return fire. The new chief came to town. 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. Top 10 Police Chief CandidatesSelect the candidates name to see their resume. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Fort Lauderdale has named its new Chief of Police. Sheriff Thorntonposted a photo on Facebook of at least 17 unused patrol cars. Mission Statement Scirottos supporters expressed disappointment, saying the chief was heading towards positive changes for the department. 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. 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. More , Click for details and safety tips. Three of the semifinalists named by the City of Fort Lauderdale were internal: Interim Assistant Chief Frank Sousa, Maj. Dana Swisher and Capt. Lagerbloom said it is a return to the department for Lynn, who served as Interim Chief in 2021. Officials told reporters they anticipated narrowing the list to four by mid-June. Four who were not selected for promotion three men and one woman filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. After a summer of searching, Key Biscayne's village manager has tapped Fort Lauderdale interim Assistant Police Chief Francis "Frank" Sousa to lead the . If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. As for his law enforcement credentials, Scirotto was formerly the assistant police chief in Pittsburgh. A city of Fort Lauderdale news release said the chief, Larry Scirotto, 48, was fired by City Manager Chris Lagerbloom on Thursday. Interviewed by officials, Scirotto denied asking which candidate was blacker when deciding on the promotion, but admitted to making comments about the wall of staff photos being too white because, he felt, it did not reflect the ethnically diverse community the police department serves. 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. Florida police chief fired over minority-first approach | WFLA - CBS 42 Atlanta-Area Agency Facing Critical Officer Shortage. The city manager is taking his time, Glassman said. I dont see the delay as something negative. Investigates both sworn and civilian public safety candidates, vendors, and other support candidates through in-person interviews. The investigation concluded that during his time as police chief, Scirotto implemented an approach to hiring and promotion that was unfairly focused on minority candidates. 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. 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. Fired Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Unfairly Focused on Minority Scirotto also provided WFOR with what he said was context for his comments about the wall being too white.. Fort Lauderdales new chief happens to be a fitness enthusiast and collegiate basketball referee. 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. WI Agency Ends Credit Checks for Recruits. Get updates on developing stories as they happen with our free breaking news email alerts. Karen Dietrich is stepping down as interim chief of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department after six months in the role, effectively taking herself out of the running to be the agency's top cop. Updated: Mar 7, 2022 / 05:51 AM EST. The agency is down nearly 30 deputies. NBC 6's Julie Leonardi reports, Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The city of Fort Lauderdale has identified a "sole finalist" for its chief of police position. In a statement the city said it had decided to cut ties with the police chief, who was not on a contract, saying: After a thorough and extensive investigation of employee complaints at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, City Manager Chris Lagerbloom has determined that it is in the Citys best interest to separate employment with Larry Scirotto.. 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. 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Officers would be paid the salary they had when they left but wouldnt receive vacation time or any health, disability and retirement benefits. Photograph: Amy Beth. Its too important., Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4554 or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan. Bill. City Manager Chris Lagerbloom, who embarked on two. 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. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department offers one of the highest starting salaries in Florida ($67,620.80-$104,395.20) and a great retirement structure, great health benefits and a slew of other incentives such as paid time off and department-issued uniforms and equipment. City Manager Chris Lagerbloom, the man who will make the final decision on whom to hire, says he doesnt expect to make a pick until early next year. Fort Lauderdale police chief fired over minority-first practices in Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman is in the running to become chief of police in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to Fort Lauderdale city officials. Hes also a masters degree candidate in Organizational Development and Leadership at Saint Josephs University. Aurora police chief semifinalist for Fort Lauderdale top cop job It cited 21 witnesses on Scirottos hiring and promotion practices. Larry Scirotto says he promoted minority candidates because they were exceptional not because they were minority. The list of candidates includes Interim Chief Karen Dietrich, a veteran Fort Lauderdale cop who came up through the ranks; Craig Capri, former chief in Daytona Beach; Todd Chamberlain, a. Lynn becomes the top cop after the firing earlier this month of Larry Scirotto after just over six months of leading the Fort Lauderdale Police Department after a workplace discrimination complaint. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) A Florida police chief has been fired after only about six months on the job following an investigation into several . Soon after being hired, Scirotto promoted 15 officers nine were white men, six were minorities through ethnicity or gender. Dietrich, a veteran Fort Lauderdale cop who came up through the ranks, has applied for the permanent job. All rights reserved. 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. Employment | Fort Lauderdale Police Department - FLPD Protestors assemble outside Fort Lauderdale Police Department headquarters on Sept 27, 2020. He comes to us at an important moment in law enforcement as departments nationwide work to ensure community trust and that everyone is treated equally and fairly in interactions with officers, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said in a tweet. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Previous chief Rick Maglione was reassigned in July 2020. ]. [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. A Warner Bros. He spent 23 years in the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and was the youngest assistant chief in that departments history. That's . "We are pleased to see that the city of Fort Lauderdale is taking allegations of discriminatory practices within the department seriously," Tonja Haddad Coleman said. Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Employee Recognition-Complaint Hotline 954-828-6956. Lagerbloom says some potential candidates are not applying out of respect for Dietrich. 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. More FLPD Seeks to Identify Man Captured on Video Near Homicide Scene He then rose through the ranks retiring as the citys Deputy Chief in 2007. 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. Scirotto was sworn-in as police chief in mid-August, and the city had hired a law firm by November to investigate complaints of discrimination before he was fired on Thursday, according to a copy of the law firms report obtained by CNN. "I think our community was really excited changing the culture of what we had experienced here in our police department.. Lagerbloom, charged with hiring the citys new top cop, also wants to name a new interim chief to level the playing field. 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 . 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. Glassman says hes glad to see the city manager is not in a rush to name a new chief. The job pays between $116,047 and $197,300 a year. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Chaplains | Fort Lauderdale Police Department - FLPD I think this gives the city manager more breathing room to find someone suitable to lead the department. He came in as the department was dealing with backlash from incidents during protests after George Floyds murder in Minneapolis. By choosing Scirotto, Lagerbloom rejected three internal candidates who were among the semi-finalists. Karen Dietrich: Meet Fort Lauderdale's new police chief He also reorganized the Violent Crime Unit by combining homicide, aggravated assault and robbery investigations into a single unit to prioritize crimes against people. Fort Lauderdale Police Department. The department is not broken, said the union president, Brandon Diaz. 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. 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. That appointment will likely happen in the next couple weeks, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said Monday. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. I wont allow them to tarnish my reputation. 2. Staff reporter David Harris and reporter Susannah Bryan with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel contributed to this report. 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. 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. I want them to be competent and experienced and open minded and sensitive to the diversity of our community.. As chief, Scirotto promises to bring accountability to the department and to treat everyone fairly. When sworn in as chief, Roln said he would prioritize officer wellbeing and pursue de-escalation and mass-casualty incident training for officers. Kentucky now has 899 state troopers, which is an increase of about 22% compared to their staffing level in November 2021. The fact that hes an external candidate leaves some unknowns. The attorney for the four officers who filed the EEOC complaints said in a statement that she hopes the "city continues on this path making improvements within the agency.. The department attracted more than 80 applicants after launching a nationwide search last summer, Lagerbloom said. Copyright 2022 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. 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. Theyre ready for this process to be complete, Diaz said. Fort Lauderdale police chief fired over minority-first practices in 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. This is a movement. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Fort Lauderdale has named its new Chief of Police. As assistant chief, Scirotto was responsible for oversight of the police bureaus accreditation, policy development, labor management, internal investigations, and criminal intelligence and education. Karen Dietrich, an assistant chief who came up through the ranks, took over as interim chief the same day Maglione was demoted. "We serve a very diverse community and thats important. Critics lambasted officers for firing tear gas and rubber bullets during what began as a peaceful protest. Police say protesters started it all when they threw rocks, bricks and fireworks. In Fort Lauderdale, he beat out dozens of applicants including three internal candidates to step into the role of chief, a job that comes with a $200,000 salary and a $140 million budget . Other candidates vying for the Fort Lauderdale position come from similar leadership roles. 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. While I appreciate that respect, I strongly feel the playing field must be level for all candidates.. 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. He said a mix of emotions will come over him as he finishes his last week on. October 9, 2019. 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. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. "You came to the wrong county. Florida Police Chief Fired for Exclusively Hiring Candidates of Color But Scirotto warned that minority groups are now being treated as less than deserving. Fort Lauderdale hires new police chief college hoops fans may - WPLG Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. I dont want to second-guess the choice of the city manager, Trantalis said. Tallahassee Police Chief candidate list narrowed to 10 finalists - WCTV
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