Florida police chief fired over discriminaton issues | AP News 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. What would the optics have been on that?. But in the fall, things turned sour when Scirotto promoted a list of minority employees. Florida Police Chief Fired for Exclusively Hiring Candidates of Color Three of the semifinalists named by the City of Fort Lauderdale were internal: Interim Assistant Chief Frank Sousa, Maj. Dana Swisher and Capt. Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Larry Scirotto has been fired for prioritizing minority candidates during the hiring process, reported CNN. Florida police chief fired over minority-first approach | WFLA - CBS 42 appreciated. Updated: Mar 7, 2022 / 05:51 AM EST. But the former police chief has said he plans to maintain his position on the issue. ]. 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. FLPD had been criticized for its handling of downtown protests. They were promoted because they were the best candidates.. 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.. Bill Schultz. Larry Scirotto, a former assistant police chief in Pittsburgh, has been tapped to lead the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. NC Sheriff Provides Community Photo Evidence of Deputy Shortage. 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. The department has about 530 officers and 179 civilian employees. Provide a safe and orderly environment in our city through professionalism, dedication, an active partnership with the community and concern for individual dignity. The list of semi-finalists represented a lot of talent both within and outside the department, Mayor Dean Trantalis said. I have no allegiance to anyone there, which means everyone will be measured on their own merit. I stand with my Jewish friends, and Im honored to be on your hit list. Scirotto did not return NBC 6's requests for comment. The department attracted more than 80 applicants after launching a nationwide search last summer, Lagerbloom said. Hes also a masters degree candidate in Organizational Development and Leadership at Saint Josephs University. Again, I go back to the fact that we support a very diverse organization," Lagerbloom said. said attorney Christina Currie, who used to head the Fort Lauderdale Citizens Investigative Panel. 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 Rick Maglione over statements defending the agencys response to citywide protests for racial justice. 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 investigation concluded that during his time as police chief, Scirotto implemented an approach to hiring and promotion that was unfairly focused on minority candidates. Investigates both sworn and civilian public safety candidates, vendors, and other support candidates through in-person interviews. This is a movement. Career Paths Throughout the decades, he moved up to the rank of deputy chief in charge of the Central and Pebble Hills regional command centers. In total, 21 witnesses, including the chief, gave a consistent narrative to investigators about Scirottos hiring and promotion practices, the report reads. Orlando police chief seeks to fill bigger role in South Florida - WESH FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. The city of Fort Lauderdale has identified a sole finalist for its chief of police position. Larry Scirotto says he promoted minority candidates because they were exceptional not because they were minority. Maglione lost his job as chief five days after posting a public statement defending actions his officers took during a May 31 protest over the killing of Floyd in Minneapolis. This past year, he was chosen to be one of the referees to officiate in the mens NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis. Lagerbloom has declined to say just what prompted the move, but five days earlier Maglione had posted a public statement defending the actions his officers took during aMay 31 protestover the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Larry Scirotto is expected to join the department in mid-August, City Manager Chris Lagerbloom announced Tuesday. 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. 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.. You dont know what hes going to bring, or what his vision is and how hes going to move the department forward.. 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.. 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. Roln declined to comment on the application process. 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. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Chief Scirotto emerged as the clear, sole finalist after a thorough year-long process in the search for a new leader of our department, Lagerbloom said in a statement. Fort Lauderdale Police Department. 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. 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. He also reorganized the Violent Crime Unit by combining homicide, aggravated assault and robbery investigations into a single unit to prioritize crimes against people. He seemed honest. Orlando police chief withdraws candidacy for top job at Fort Lauderdale Many believed that Chief Scirotto made clear his intention to promote, based on race, gender, or sexual orientation," Lagerbloom said. 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. Fort Lauderdale For nearly a year, Fort Lauderdales troubled police department has been without a permanent leader, with two different interim chiefs taking over while a national search was underway. All rights reserved. He turns 63 in October of this year the mandatory retirement age for Chicago police officers. Police say protesters started it all when they threw rocks, bricks and fireworks. The previous chief Rick Maglione was reassigned in July. Discovery Company. Humane Society of Broward County Kicks Off VCA Walk for the Animals in Fort Lauderdale, BSO Searching forMissing 11-Year-Old Girl From Pompano Beach, Miami-Dade Mayor, State Attorney Announce New Measures to Protect HOA Residents, Check Your Change! Larry Scirotto is expected to join the department in. Scirotto also provided WFOR with what he said was context for his comments about the wall being too white.. The Sun Sentinel reports the list of candidates includes Interim Chief Karen Dietrich, a veteran Fort Lauderdale officer who 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 We were looking for someone who would be a collaborative leader, both with the community and the rank and file. He came from a department that shared the most information on data and statistics.. 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. He said the context of the comment is built around how do I convince the community that we are an inclusive and diverse organization if this wall is so white? the report said. 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 department is not broken, said the union president, Brandon Diaz. Lagerbloom made his pick from a list of eight semi-finalists that included three internal candidates: Fort Lauderdales Assistant Chief Frank Sousa, Maj. Dana Swisher and Capt. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. Orlando Police Chief Orlando Roln is in the running to become chief of police at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, records show. He then rose through the ranks retiring as the citys Deputy Chief in 2007. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. But Scirotto warned that minority groups are now being treated as less than deserving. More FLPD Seeks to Identify Man Captured on Video Near Homicide Scene Theyre ready to go, he said with a laugh. He followed up with an email. 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. Four who were not selected for promotion three men and one woman filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. When sworn in as chief, Roln said he would prioritize officer wellbeing and pursue de-escalation and mass-casualty incident training for officers. Scirotto denied asking which candidate was blacker when deciding on the promotion, but admitted to making comments about the wall being too white, because he felt it was not reflective of the community, according to the report. City Manager Chris Lagerbloom shared the news Tuesday with the departments command staff and rank and file. I want to have a chief of police who honors the fact that public records are public. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Fort Lauderdale has named its new Chief of Police. Make no mistake weve had events occur in our police department in the last month, but I can tell you theres not been one event that has been the decision-making event, Lagerbloom said in July. Starting Monday, April 4, Patrick Lynn will take over the department, announced Fort Lauderdale City Manager Chris . And how do I purport we have that when the entire bottom row are white men? Scirotto told WFOR. He started making positive changes that would impact the whole community in a more positive direction than we had been in," community activist Jackie Scott said. Staff reporter David Harris and reporter Susannah Bryan with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel contributed to this report. Protestors assemble outside Fort Lauderdale Police Department headquarters on Sept 27, 2020. Fort Lauderdale Police names Patrick Lynn chief. We wanted someone who can shepherd this department into a new era of policing, build trust and keep the needs of our diverse community at the forefront. 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. CurrieFriday afternoonsaid, I was really looking forward to the leadership that Chief Scirotto was going to bring." Orlando Police chief vying for position at Fort Lauderdale Police Key Biscayne taps Fort Lauderdale interim assistant chief to lead But in an interview with Miamis 7News, Scirotto denied that he had made promotions based on minority-status. Glenn Sapp - Chief of Police for the Quincy Police Department since 2014, and the Assistant Chief from 2011 until then. [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. Attorney Christina Currie used to head the Ft. Lauderdale Citizens Investigative Panel which looked into complaints against officers. 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'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. Robert Chabali, retired assistant chief in Dayton, Ohio. 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. Scirotto told CNN Saturday the report that triggered his termination from the department was vague on the facts, and was largely based on hearsay. It doesnt need fixing. . Bill Schultz; retired Miami Assistant Chief Dennis Jackson; Chief Kristen Ziman from Aurora, Ill.; Orlando Chief Orlando Rolon; and Houston Assistant Chief Heather Morris. The acting police chief will be Luis Alvarez, who is currently an assistant chief. 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. Check out the resumes of 10 Fort Myers police chief candidates All FLPD Police Chaplains are duly ordained or licensed by a recognized religious institution with ecclesiastical authority and support. Tallahassee Police Chief candidate list narrowed to 10 finalists - WCTV Updated Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. City Manager Chris Lagerbloom has announced former Pittsburgh Assistant Chief Larry Scirotto as the sole finalist for Chief of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Fort Lauderdale police chief fired over minority-first practices in While I appreciate that respect, I strongly feel the playing field must be level for all candidates.. A 23-year veteran with the Pittsburgh department, Scirotto retired in January 2018 and moved to Dallas two years later. 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. 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. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. Fort Lauderdales new chief happens to be a fitness enthusiast and collegiate basketball referee. Florida Gov. Top 10 Police Chief CandidatesSelect the candidates name to see their resume. Former Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Larry Scirotto is seen in this file photo from the Fort Lauderdale Police Dept. Gainesville, FL, Disbands K-9 Unit Over Arrestee Losing Eye, IL Deputy Dies After Medical Event During Training, New TASER 10 Will Require Training for Seasoned Officers, Brinc Announces Next Generation of Lemur Drone, Michigan State Police Helicopter Fired On, Suspect Killed by Troopers on Ground, 11 Inspirational Quotes to Boost Police Morale in Trying Times, VA Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Chiefs to Set Curfews During Unrest, The bill if signed into law would empower local law enforcement chiefs to impose curfews for up to 24 hours if there is an imminent threat of any civil commotion or disturbance in the nature of a riot which constitutes a clear and present danger., Newsweek: Apprenticeships Would Improve Police Training. 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. Retired cop from Pittsburgh tapped to lead Fort Lauderdale Police Fort Lauderdale Police Department at City of Fort Lauderdale 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. 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 . Get updates on developing stories as they happen with our free breaking news email alerts. October 9, 2019. He is the first Latino to hold the position. ", KY State Police Welcome Largest Cadet Class in Years. I dont want to second-guess the choice of the city manager, Trantalis said. 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.. 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. 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. There are just certain ways that you can do that and do it legally, and other ways that meet that muster.. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. The first round of applications did not measure up to the expectations of the city manager, Trantalis said. None of them were promoted because they were in a protected class, he said. State police said a $15,000 salary increase for state polices sworn personnel had helped increase the number of officers in the agency. Lagerbloom now has a new plan: appoint a new interim chief from outside the department who is not interested in the job. In 2020, Lynn stepped into a former role as Davies police chief after Dale Engle resigned. Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. With Dietrich out as interim chief, Lagerbloom turned to former Davie Police Chief Patrick Lynn to oversee the agency while the national search was under way. 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. . Scirotto will be making the move from Dallas to Fort Lauderdale with his two American bulldogs, Charlie and Linus. Fort Lauderdale looks to new police chief to boost trust - Sun Sentinel El Paso Chief Dies After 15 Years Leading Department.
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