December 29, 2023
Broward County has long had a tumultuous history with its sheriffs. Of the four to hold office this century alone, two were removed by the governor and two were appointed by the governor. One even went to prison.
Recently, the county has also been the location of major events that have put the Broward Sheriff’s Office under more intense scrutiny – the 2017 Fort Lauderdale airport shooting and the 2018 Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, as well as a 2023 Department of Justice indictment of 17 police officers for PPP fraud. It is in this complex context that a hotly contested race is developing for the 2024 election cycle.
A unique scenario is playing out in the Democratic primary, where incumbent Sheriff Gregory Tony is being challenged by former Florida Department of Law Enforcement official Steve Geller (unrelated to Broward County Commissioner Steve Geller), Al Pollock, a former colonel in the Broward Sheriff’s Office, and Pembroke Park Chief of Police David Howard.
Sheriff Tony was appointed to replace Scott Israel, a Democrat who won 74% of the vote in 2016 before being removed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2019 – a decision that a Florida Senate special master had recommended be undone. Shortly after being appointed, Sheriff Tony changed his party affiliation to Democratic and barely won the primary election in 2020 against Mr. Israel, with a small plurality of the vote.
“Ultimately, the key to the outcome being a sheriff candidate is not through pretentious finances or the boasting of one self, but by the thorough research conducted by Broward County voters,” said Mr. Pollock.
This is especially true as the incumbent remains highly vulnerable. Investigations have found that the highest law enforcement officer in Broward County lied on a job application, neglecting to state that he had killed someone as a juvenile. He also left off further acts including writing a bad check and taking illegal LSD – usually things that would preclude someone from making it to the first interview for any job, let alone that of sheriff of the state’s most densely populated county.
Mr. Geller and Mr. Pollock both appear to be likely to make integrity a cornerstone of their campaigns – something Sheriff Tony cannot effectively do. Moreover, neither of them are tied to a governor that the people of Broward County have overwhelmingly rejected twice.
Mr. Geller stated, “People want a sheriff they can trust and respect in these dangerous times. When people know about my 33-year distinguished law enforcement experience, integrity and honesty, and commitment to community service and leadership, they will trust me to be their sheriff, and I will be their choice for Broward County Sheriff.”
“My honesty, passion, professionalism, and continued community engagement set me apart from others, as I have remained active in various aspects of Broward County life…I am fully committed to serving with honesty, professionalism, transparency, and a strong focus on public safety and emergency management for all in Broward County,” said Mr. Pollock as he struck a similar tone.
After trying to solve the issue through an administrative hearing, Sheriff Tony’s move backfired and he may instead end up in a full-fledged trial, trying to find an end to a Florida Commission on Ethics finding that the sheriff has misused his office by not disclosing that information about his past – and a recommendation that he be stripped of his license to be a police officer.
Unfortunately, the board cannot remove the sheriff from office. Likely the only reason why the sheriff has not been suspended from office and replaced with yet another appointee is that the governor, a presidential candidate, may not want to acknowledge his own glaring mistake.
Indeed, the governor has all but endorsed Sheriff Tony, even as the scandal-prone sheriff sinks deeper into his own issues. When asked who his favorite Florida Democrat is in a CNN town hall, the governor instantly named Sheriff Tony, citing his “great life story.”
Although he has a formidable field of opponents and a majority of Broward County Democrats rejected him in 2020, the unpopular sheriff could still win the primary through the simple fact that, with three challengers, the opposition vote could splinter. This is what propelled the sheriff to a full term in office in 2020, and history could well repeat itself this cycle. A consolidation of the field would increase Sheriff Tony’s chances of being defeated in this primary, which is expected to be hard-fought nonetheless.
At the end of the day, as Mr. Geller noted, “What’s at stake? Safety.”
Something else is also at stake: the rule of law. The people of Broward County will be able to decide if they want someone who lied on their job application and has presided over a department with clear systemic issues – or if they want a fresh face, without ties to the intensely political problems that led to this situation in the first place. As the race gets ever closer, the voters must ensure they are informed as they effectively decide the next sheriff of the most Democratic county in the state.
Florida’s local and state primary elections will take place on August 20, 2024. Only registered Democrats are allowed to vote in the Democratic primary. To register to vote or make a plan to vote in these elections, please visit browardvotes.gov or call (954) 357-VOTE.
The Broward County Courthouse. Charles Horowitz for Policy Reform Now
By Charles Horowitz
Policy Reform Now 
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