A war is raging in the battle for Broward’s next sheriff between the incumbent (elected twice) Scott Israel, and his replacement Gregory Tony.
Tony was appointed to his post by Gov. Ron DeSantis when Israel was removed after the Parkland massacre. Governor DeSantis made good on a campaign promise to oust Israel and did so shortly after taking office in 2018.
Now, it’s up to the voters in Broward County to decide who should be their sheriff. Will the select Scott Israel, whom they elected twice before, or will they vote for the new sheriff who has a sterling resume?
The only detractor for Tony is an omission on his job application…and it was a pretty big one.
Fourteen months after being appointed as Broward Sheriff, a routine police form he filled out earlier this year came to light, on which he denied ever having a criminal record sealed or expunged. Tony shot and killed a man when he was just 14. The case was eventually ruled self-defense in the juvenile court system, where records are kept private.
Tony’s opponents in the election for Broward Sheriff later this year say this needs to be held against him.
Meanwhile, Israel is still dealing with the fallout from his handling of two mass shootings. Many believe his department mishandled both the shooting at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport’s baggage claim in 2017 and at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland in 2018.
The former sheriff spoke with 850 WFTL on what he would do differently if Broward voters gave him another chance. He addresses how he would sew racial unity within the department and reform policing especially when force is required. Choke holds have been banned in the department from before Israel became sheriff in 2012.
Israel says if he is re-elected he plans to: keep young kids out of jail, change stand your ground, help convicted felons who have paid their debt to society re-enter Broward County through the homeless initiative. Israel also says he will do all he can to eliminate bad behavior from the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
Israel and Tony are both running as democrats, so voters will decide between them in the state’s August 18th primary.
Listen to full interview with former Broward Sheriff Scott Israel here.