‘Sheriff Dr. Tony’ and BSO’s budding cult of personality

By Dan Christensen, FloridaBulldog.org

There are some strange goings-on at the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

Respected current and former deputies and observers are disturbed after watching many of Sheriff Gregory Tony’s top staff publicly glorify him on video, a budding cult of personality.

The cause for such fawning acclaim? Tony’s graduation this month from Nova Southeastern University with a PhD in criminal justice. It used to be such occasions brought out proud and happy family. Tony was accompanied during his exuberant cap and gown appearance on campus by a retinue of his uniformed command staff.

The sheriff did not respond to an emailed Florida Bulldog inquiry about the subject of his dissertation, whether he had successfully completed defending it, and how much BSO paid toward his tuition and fees. He isn’t officially a PhD until he triumphantly defends his dissertation.

But no matter. Tony’s already put out the word on another Instagram video that he’s now to be addressed as “Sheriff Dr. Tony” – and he’s begun having it attached to his name on the official sheriff’s logo as “Sheriff Gregory Tony Ph.D.”

MESSAGE RECEIVED

The message has been received loud and clear at headquarters.

 “Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony’s achievement is indicative of his pursuit of excellence,” said Undersheriff Nichole Anderson, appearing to repeat the words off a BSO teleprompter.

Likewise, Col. Steve Robson, head of BSO’s Department of Preparedness & Response/Special Operations, offered these stirring words, “Being the first sheriff in the history of Florida to obtain his PhD definitely sets the sheriff’s office at the top when it comes to our professionalism and our emphasis on education and our leadership roles here in the agency.”

Tony couldn’t have said it better himself.

In all, more than two dozen sworn and nonsworn BSO personnel stepped up to the camera, and against the backdrop of BSO’s updated logo emblazoned with “Phd” after Tony’s name, did everything but prostrate themselves to sing Tony’s praises during three rounds of slick video flattery: “Leading by Example; Describe the Sheriff in One Word; and Congratulatory Wishes.”

That’s five BSO colonels, two lt. colonels, six majors, eight nonsworn employees, the fire chief, three other fire/rescue employees and the undersheriff. Oh, even Tony’s general counsel, Terrence Lynch.

All, of course, owe their jobs to Tony.

“BEST WISHES”

Perhaps the most unintentionally funny remarks came out of the mouth of Associate Chaplain Darren Bennett, who began his “best wishes” remarks by reminding the effervescent Tony to “stay humble.”

Maj. Ed McCardle, in charge of personnel, was a close second. “I don’t know if I should call you doctor sheriff or sheriff doctor? But either way I’m proud of you, happy for you.”

Veda Coleman, director of public communications, got a bit carried away when she said Tony will “continue to achieve milestones that will be recorded forever in history.”

If you want to catch ’em all click here.

For his part, Tony gives a lot of credit to his command staff for affording him the opportunity to complete his doctorate, though he didn’t discuss how much time he spent away from BSO to attain it.

“My ability to go back to school and complete a demanding doctorate program was only possible because of the TEAM. The laborious and vigorous academic demands required extreme focus and an unwavering commitment to finish,” he wrote on Instagram.

“Never once did I worry about BSO’s operational integrity because my TEAM of commanders are highly competent, mission focused, and loyal to BSO.”

BRASS INFLATION

Tony was appointed sheriff by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2019. Since then, he’s significantly increased the size of BSO’s executive command staff and opportunities for potential toadies.

The day he was sworn in there were six colonels, two lt. colonels and eight majors. Today, BSO’s website lists the undersheriff, seven colonels, three lt. colonels and 16 majors. That’s 11 more top brass than five years ago.

In 2019, BSO reported it had 5,400 certified and civilian employees. Today, BSO reports that number as 5,500.

There appears to be similar command staff inflation on BSO’s fire/rescue side. On Jan. 5, 2019, under then-Sheriff Scott Israel, only then-Fire Chief Joseph Fernandez was listed among Israel’s executive command staff. Today, in addition to Fire Chief Timothy Keefe, listed are a deputy chief and a trio of assistant chiefs.

Sheriff Al Lamberti, who served from October 2007 to January 2013, had just two colonels and eight majors under him. And yet his total staff, sworn and unsworn, was 6,300 at its peak. Budget cuts in 2010 reduced BSO’s ranks, mostly by attrition but also layoffs when a jail facility was closed.

Sheriff Tony now thinks BSO needs to significantly step up its hiring. Last week, Tony appeared at a county budget workshop where he presented a proposed budget seeking a $91.6 million, or 17.5 percent, increase in just personnel spending. One of his minions explained that BSO wants to add 218 new positions, mostly to hire new detention deputies, plus give “salary differential” raises to existing detention personnel. Personnel accounts for the largest chunk of BSO’s total annual budget.

This year, personnel cost $523.3 million out of a total budget of $681.6 million. Tony wants it to grow in fiscal year 24/25 to $614.9 million out of a total budget of just over $1 billion.

(The biggest proposed jump would be for capital outlays – notably helicopters at $34.6 million each and $39 million for vehicle replacement and $341 million for a new district station at the airport and a new $43 million “evidence facility” – which Tony wants to grow from $18.5 million to $131.9 million, or 713.7 percent.)

Such a budget would mark a spending record, except it was dead on arrival at the commission.

Commissioner Steve Geller told Tony, “I’ve considered you to be a serious person dealing with serious issues, but I don’t think you’ve presented us with a serious budget.”

Tony’s staff will rework BSO’s proposal for reconsideration later this summer.