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?. Updated 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. October 9, 2019. (City of Fort Lauderdale/Courtesy). That means Karen Dietrichs days as interim chief are numbered. 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. 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. He seemed honest. He wasnt all just talk, she said. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. All rights reserved. He also reorganized the Violent Crime Unit by combining homicide, aggravated assault and robbery investigations into a single unit to prioritize crimes against people. FLPD had been criticized for its handling of downtown protests. FL Sheriff Chases After Suspect During Radio Interview. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. 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. Staff reporter David Harris and reporter Susannah Bryan with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel contributed to this report. Officers would be paid the salary they had when they left but wouldnt receive vacation time or any health, disability and retirement benefits. After less than a year on the job, Fort Lauderdale's top cop is being fired after an investigation into employee complaints. 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. Seven contenders are in line to lead Fort Lauderdales police department. 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. Top 10 Police Chief CandidatesSelect the candidates name to see their resume. CurrieFriday afternoonsaid, I was really looking forward to the leadership that Chief Scirotto was going to bring." 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. Following 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, the city said in a statement dated March 3. They are trained in Critical Incident Stress Symptoms and Management as well as Fort Lauderdale Police Policies and Procedures. All FLPD Police Chaplains are duly ordained or licensed by a recognized religious institution with ecclesiastical authority and support. Get updates on developing stories as they happen with our free breaking news email alerts. Roln received criticism from some officers over the past year for pandering to the community in response to demands for reform and failing to support and defend officers against anti-police rhetoric, an officer survey showed. RELATED: Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione removed as officers face scrutiny over protest brutality. Scirotto had been accused of overlooking white. 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. City Manager Chris Lagerbloom, who embarked on two. 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. 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 report said that Scirotto had responded that the context of his comment had been built around how do I convince the community that we are an inclusive and diverse organization if this wall is so white?. Throughout the decades, he moved up to the rank of deputy chief in charge of the Central and Pebble Hills regional command centers. Hes also a masters degree candidate in Organizational Development and Leadership at Saint Josephs University. 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. "I want a great relationship with people in our community who havent had access in the past," Scirotto said at the time. 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. 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. Karen Dietrich, 50, was chosen Thursday by Fort Lauderdale City Manager Chris Lagerbloom to lead the department as interim chief after Lagerbloom asked former chief Rick Maglione to step. ]. Larry Scirotto, a former assistant chief from Pittsburgh, will be taking the helm on Aug. 16. Orlando Roln, the city's police chief, smiles at the families who came out to the 9th Annual Dragon Parade on Sun, Feb. 9, 2020. Fort Lauderdale Police Department at City of Fort Lauderdale Soon after being hired, Scirotto promoted 15 officers nine were white men, six were minorities through ethnicity or gender. Bill. They called for racial justice in response to a grand jury decision in Louisville to charge one officer involved in the raid that killed Breonna Taylor. 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 watched George Floyd in horror like hopefully every other law enforcement professional in America did, he told the Sun Sentinel. 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. "You came to the wrong county. By choosing Scirotto, Lagerbloom rejected three internal candidates who were among the semi-finalists. 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. Its too important., Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4554 or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan. He plans to stay onboard for awhile to help with the transition, Lagerbloom said. 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. 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. Starting Monday, April 4, Patrick Lynn will take over the department, announced Fort Lauderdale City Manager Chris . Scirotto has a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Ashworth University and a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. 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. Discovery Company. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Lagerbloom says some potential candidates are not applying out of respect for Dietrich. I know we dont release the data publicly in a way I want to, so the public can see when we use force and the outcome of that force.. 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. 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. A list of eight semifinalists. Larry Scirotto is expected to join the department in. 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.. The report followed several. Some officers seem to revel in the return fire. By November, the city had hired a law firm to investigate complaints. [RELATED: Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione removed as officers face scrutiny over protest brutality]. "We serve a very diverse community and thats important. Karen Dietrich, an assistant chief who came up through the ranks, took over as interim chief the same day Maglione was demoted. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 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. Scirotto will be making the move from Dallas to Fort Lauderdale with his two American bulldogs, Charlie and Linus. 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. But in the fall, things turned sour when Scirotto promoted a list of minority employees. 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. The job pays between $116,047 and $197,300 a year. Units of the Office of the Chief of Police. 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. 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 Manager Chris Lagerbloom shared the news Tuesday with the departments command staff and rank and file. 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! 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. A city of Fort Lauderdale news release said the chief, Larry Scirotto, 48, was fired by City Manager Chris Lagerbloom on Thursday. The Sun Sentinel reports the list of candidates includes Interim Chief Karen Dietrich,a veteran Fort Lauderdale officerwho 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 Lauderdale police captain and former colonel with the Broward Sheriffs Office; John Pate, city manager and director of Public Safety for Opa-locka; Tomas Sanchez, former chief of the Hollywood Police Department; and Cecil Smith, police chief in Sanford. Fort Lauderdale police fired tear gas and rubber bullets during the protest, exacerbating to a chaotic and violent scene. Scirottos supporters expressed disappointment, saying the chief was heading towards positive changes for the department. Lagerbloom now has a new plan: appoint a new interim chief from outside the department who is not interested in the job. The department attracted more than 80 applicants after launching a nationwide search last summer, Lagerbloom said. We were looking for someone who would be a collaborative leader, both with the community and the rank and file. 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. 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. More , Click for details. The bottom row had several white males and one white female. The acting police chief will be Luis Alvarez, who is currently an assistant chief. Fort Lauderdale officials have indicated the city could rescind promotions made on Scirottos watch. I want to have a chief of police who honors the fact that public records are public. I believe to build trust and legitimacy in any organization, the trust is earned, he said. Larry Scirotto is expected to join the department in mid-August, City Manager Chris Lagerbloom announced Tuesday. I dont see the delay as something negative. 2023 Cable News Network. Its a wait-and-see attitude, Diaz added. I believe weve found that.. In 2020, Lynn stepped into a former role as Davies police chief after Dale Engle resigned. Fort Lauderdales new chief happens to be a fitness enthusiast and collegiate basketball referee. He was also a member of the Tallahassee Police Department from 1988 until 2011. He followed up with an email. Three of the semifinalists named by the City of Fort Lauderdale were internal: Interim Assistant Chief Frank Sousa, Maj. Dana Swisher and Capt. FL Sheriff Calls Anti-Semitic Group "Scumbags, Says He's Honored to be On Their Hit List, "These scumbags came to the wrong county," Volusia County Sheriff, Mike Chitwood, said. Career Paths Get updates on developing stories as they happen with our free breaking news email alerts. Police say protesters started it all when they threw rocks, bricks and fireworks. Scirotto also provided WFOR with what he said was context for his comments about the wall being too white.. The first round of applications did not measure up to the expectations of the city manager, Trantalis said. That was the day Lagerbloom demoted longtime chief Rick Maglione to major as protests over the police killing of George Floyd swept the nation. Lagerbloom, charged with hiring the citys new top cop, also wants to name a new interim chief to level the playing field. 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.. . 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. We want to really have a police department that is focused on 21st century modern policing, Lagerbloom said. FLPD Seeks to Identify Man Captured on Video Near Homicide Scene, Employee Recognition-Complaint Hotline 954-828-6956. Provide a safe and orderly environment in our city through professionalism, dedication, an active partnership with the community and concern for individual dignity. While I appreciate that respect, I strongly feel the playing field must be level for all candidates.. 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. More , Click for details and safety tips. But retirement didnt last for long. Police Chief Jorge Colina will walk out of the downtown Miami police headquarters for the final time on Friday. The agency is down nearly 30 deputies. Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. The previous chief Rick Maglione was reassigned in July. said attorney Christina Currie, who used to head the Fort Lauderdale Citizens Investigative Panel. Minutes later Sheriff Mike Chitwood responded that he was OK and explained what happened. When sworn in as chief, Roln said he would prioritize officer wellbeing and pursue de-escalation and mass-casualty incident training for officers. Did you encounter any technical issues? Investigates both sworn and civilian public safety candidates, vendors, and other support candidates through in-person interviews. As chief, Scirotto promises to bring accountability to the department and to treat everyone fairly. Michelle F. Solomon is the podcast producer/reporter/host of Local 10's original, true-crime podcast The Florida Files and a digital journalist for Local 10.com. He spent 23 years in the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and was the youngest assistant chief in that departments history. "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. /end, The city says that interim Chief Patrick Lynn will remain to assist in the transition.. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) A Florida police chief has been fired after only about six months on the job following an investigation into several . Some officers seem to revel in the return fire. In Pittsburgh, Scirotto came up with strategies to reduce and solve violent crimes. NBC 6's Julie Leonardi reports, Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. As a leader, I will be visible and engaged with the community and the officers. Officer Shortage Has LAPD Asking Retirees to Come Back. 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. Mission Statement City Manager Chris Lagerbloom has announced former Pittsburgh Assistant Chief Larry Scirotto as the sole finalist for Chief of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. I support his decision. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Lagerbloom said it is a return to the department for Lynn, who served as Interim Chief in 2021. This is a movement. Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown is resigning effective March 16, Lightfoot said in a statement. I wont allow them to tarnish my reputation. Engle came under fire after he suggested that a Broward Sheriffs Office deputys death from COVID-19 was linked to his sexuality. NC Sheriff Provides Community Photo Evidence of Deputy Shortage. 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. 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. He came from a department that shared the most information on data and statistics.. Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman is in the running to become chief of police in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to Fort Lauderdale city officials. Lagerbloom says he made his choice partly based on the positive feedback Scirotto got from both police and the community including religious leaders, NAACP officials and Fort Lauderdales citizens police review board. I see it as him taking the time to make sure the right person gets hired. A 23-year veteran with the Pittsburgh department, Scirotto retired in January 2018 and moved to Dallas two years later. None of them were promoted because they were in a protected class, he said. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. I have no allegiance to anyone there, which means everyone will be measured on their own merit. College Degrees Designed for Police Officers, Best Practices for Active Shooter Response and Police Training, The Tennessee Department of Public Safety Increased Visibility, Accountability and Accuracy with Inventory Management Software Designed Specifically for Law Enforcement, DC Mayor Taps Veteran Metro Officer as Next Police Chief, After Murders of Officers in Charlotte Area NC Chiefs Ask Governor to Condemn Attacks on Police, CA Sheriff Defies Judge's Order to Release Violent Inmates Over COVID, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Chief Tests Positive for COVID-19, Chicago Police Superintendent Announces Resignation. But the former police chief has said he plans to maintain his position on the issue. Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale has hired a new police chief just 19 days after the firing of former Chief Larry Scirotto. Scirotto, a former assistant chief in Pittsburgh, was the first openly gay chief hired in Fort Lauderdale and also is from a mixed-race background. Glassman says hes glad to see the city manager is not in a rush to name a new chief. Dietrich, a veteran Fort Lauderdale cop who came up through the ranks, has applied for the permanent job. You dont know what hes going to bring, or what his vision is and how hes going to move the department forward.. Scirotto, 48, will make $200,000 a year overseeing the agencys 530 sworn officers and 179 civilians. 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. The report concluded that most believed that Chief Scirotto made clear his intention to promote based on race, gender or sexual orientation and that almost every witness was dissatisfied with Scirottos approach to promotions. The department has about 530 officers and 179 civilian employees. 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.