Larry Scirotto is expected to join the department in mid-August, City Manager Chris Lagerbloom announced Tuesday. He was also a member of the Tallahassee Police Department from 1988 until 2011. I dont want to second-guess the choice of the city manager, Trantalis said. 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.. "We serve a very diverse community and thats important. He came from a department that shared the most information on data and statistics.. As of last month, it employed 690 officers out of an authorized strength of 939, leaving more than a quarter of sworn officer positions vacant. Previous chief Rick Maglione was reassigned in July 2020. Scirotto will be making the move from Dallas to Fort Lauderdale with his two American bulldogs, Charlie and Linus. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan. OPD referred further questions to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. The department has about 530 officers and 179 civilian employees. Receive the latest law enforcement in-depth information, news and products. /end, The city says that interim Chief Patrick Lynn will remain to assist in the transition.. Hes also a masters degree candidate in Organizational Development and Leadership at Saint Josephs University. 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. 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. 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. Aurora police chief semifinalist for Fort Lauderdale top cop job Units of the Office of the Chief of Police. He has the respect and support of the command staff and the rank and file. In February, Dietrich announced she planned to step down from the role. 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. City News | City of Fort Lauderdale, FL "You came to the wrong county. Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale has hired a new police chief just 19 days after the firing of former Chief 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. 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. If promoting diversity is the hill Im going to die on, I will sleep well tonight, he said. ]. If you want to take an organization somewhere, sometimes you have to look to the outside.. 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. Lagerbloom says some potential candidates are not applying out of respect for Dietrich. 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. A Warner Bros. 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 officials have indicated the city could rescind promotions made on Scirottos watch. I have to be that visible leader, leading from the front, leading by example.. I have a vision for the department, Scirotto said at the time. He turns 63 in October of this year the mandatory retirement age for Chicago police officers. Bill Schultz; retired Miami Assistant Chief Dennis Jackson; Chief Kristen Ziman from Aurora, Ill.; Orlando Chief Orlando Rolon; and Houston Assistant Chief Heather Morris. I wont allow them to tarnish my reputation. 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. Staff reporter David Harris and reporter Susannah Bryan with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel contributed to this report. Attorney Christina Currie used to head the Ft. Lauderdale Citizens Investigative Panel which looked into complaints against officers. 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. For nearly a year, Fort Lauderdale's troubled police department has been without a permanent leader, with two different interim chiefs taking over while a national search was underway. 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. Larry Scirotto says he promoted minority candidates because they were exceptional not because they were minority. The fact that hes an external candidate leaves some unknowns. He joined Davies police department as chief soon after where he served until 2017. There are things we can do better. Retired cop from Pittsburgh tapped to lead Fort Lauderdale Police That's . We must change our tactics, our strategy, our training and the way we are accountable to the public for our actions.. Engle came under fire after he suggested that a Broward Sheriffs Office deputys death from COVID-19 was linked to his sexuality. A list of eight semifinalists for the open chief position provided by the City of Fort Lauderdale lists Roln among its candidates, and Orlando Police Department spokesperson Autumn Jones confirmed Thursday that Roln is in a selection process for the position. Ex-Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Denies Promoting Based on Anything But But in an interview with Miamis 7News, Scirotto denied that he had made promotions based on minority-status. As a leader, I will be visible and engaged with the community and the officers. The bottom row had several white males and one white female. Key Biscayne taps Fort Lauderdale interim assistant chief to lead Throughout the decades, he moved up to the rank of deputy chief in charge of the Central and Pebble Hills regional command centers. Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Employee Recognition-Complaint Hotline 954-828-6956. Additionally, about 120 of the filled positions are recruits that have not completed training, according to the police department. 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.. He said a mix of emotions will come over him as he finishes his last week on. 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'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. 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 . Atlanta-Area Agency Facing Critical Officer Shortage. Four who were not selected for promotion three men and one woman filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. NC Sheriff Provides Community Photo Evidence of Deputy Shortage. When sworn in as chief, Roln said he would prioritize officer wellbeing and pursue de-escalation and mass-casualty incident training for officers. Florida Gov. He wasnt all just talk, she said. The job pays between $116,047 and $197,300 a year. Florida Police Chief Fired for Exclusively Hiring Candidates of Color Retiring Miami Police Chief speaks about his career - Fort Lauderdale Mission Statement Soon after being hired, Scirotto promoted 15 officers nine were white men, six were minorities through ethnicity or gender. 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! "I want a great relationship with people in our community who havent had access in the past," Scirotto said at the time. City Manager Chris Lagerbloom shared the news Tuesday with the departments command staff and rank and file. Click for details on her case and to see how you can help. More , Click for details and safety tips. 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. This is not a moment in time. Office of the Chief | Fort Lauderdale Police Department - FLPD Four officers three white and one Hispanic filed EEOC complaints alleging that the chief was promoting unfairly. ", KY State Police Welcome Largest Cadet Class in Years. That appointment will likely happen in the next couple weeks, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said Monday. Dietrich has been in charge of the agencys 530 sworn officers and 179 civilians since July 9, when Lagerbloomdemoted Rick Maglionefrom chief to major. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. The departments rank and file are eager to see a new leader named, said Detective Brandon Diaz, police union president. El Paso Chief Dies After 15 Years Leading Department. Lagerbloom, charged with hiring the citys new top cop, also wants to name a new interim chief to level the playing field. 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. After less than a year on the job, Fort Lauderdale's top cop is being fired after an investigation into employee complaints. Copyright 2022 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. Starting Monday, April 4, Patrick Lynn will take over the department, announced Fort Lauderdale City Manager Chris . Scirotto also provided WFOR with what he said was context for his comments about the wall being too white.. Larry Scirotto has been selected by the city manager to become Fort Lauderdale's next police chief. 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. 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. Scirotto told CNN Saturday the report that triggered his termination from the department was vague on the facts, and was largely based on hearsay. 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. Ron DeSantis was doing some of the recruitment himself on Monday. Larry Scirotto, a former assistant police chief in Pittsburgh, has been tapped to lead the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Roln declined to comment on the application process. He then rose through the ranks retiring as the citys Deputy Chief in 2007. 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. 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.. We were looking for someone who would be a collaborative leader, both with the community and the rank and file. 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. I watched George Floyd in horror like hopefully every other law enforcement professional in America did, he told the Sun Sentinel. Retired cop from Pittsburgh tapped to lead Fort Lauderdale Police - MSN He spent 23 years in the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and was the youngest assistant chief in that departments history. 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. 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. 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. Chicago Losing Officers to Florida Agencies. He holds a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Ashworth University and is a masters degree candidate in Organizational Development and Leadership from Saint Josephs University. 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. Updated If youre a hardcore college basketball fan and that name sounds familiar, its because Scirotto also works as an NCAA referee. 2. The agency is down nearly 30 deputies. 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. 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. 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. All rights reserved. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Fort Lauderdale hires new police chief college hoops fans may - WPLG 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 By choosing Scirotto, Lagerbloom rejected three internal candidates who were among the semi-finalists. A list of eight semifinalists. Police say protesters started it all when they threw rocks, bricks and fireworks. Officials told reporters they anticipated narrowing the list to four by mid-June. 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. [RELATED: Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione removed as officers face scrutiny over protest brutality]. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel). All FLPD Police Chaplains are duly ordained or licensed by a recognized religious institution with ecclesiastical authority and support. "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. 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. 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. It cited 21 witnesses on Scirottos hiring and promotion practices. Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown is resigning effective March 16, Lightfoot said in a statement. More , Click for details. There are just certain ways that you can do that and do it legally, and other ways that meet that muster..