BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony didn’t mince words as he fired back at Deerfield Beach officials over a contract dispute.
Tony says Deerfield Beach’s city manager, Rodney Brimlow — who once worked for the Broward Sheriff’s Office — has been spreading misinformation and is standing in the way of finalizing the contract with BSO.
“Your sheriff did not threaten anyone’s life,” Tony said during a press conference on Wednesday at BSO headquarters. “Did I advocate for my people? You are damn right.”
The comments followed remarks made during a roll call meeting last week in which Tony was heard saying, “You tell me if I should go absolutely nuclear on this and destroy him,” referring to Brimlow.
Deerfield Beach Mayor Todd Drosky responded, calling the language “quite disappointing” and “counterproductive.”
Contract negotiations between BSO and Deerfield Beach have been ongoing for months. BSO provides police and fire services to the city, and the contract is set to expire next month.
Tony accused Brimlow of not being forthcoming with Drosky and city commissioners regarding those negotiations.
“He not only spread misinformation and didn’t give all the facts about all the contact negotiations, but even after I was directly notified by the FDLE that my name was subject to a criminal investigation — that I threatened to kill him — he went back and told the city mayor again that that wasn’t true,” Tony said.
A Florida Department of Law Enforcement report, provided by BSO officials, concluded that Tony “did not make any direct overt threat to the personal safety of Brimlow,” saying the sheriff’s “rhetoric was directed in a political manner” to get agency members involved in putting “pressure” on decision makers regarding the contract.
The sheriff said his main goal is to finalize a contract and get deputies the pay they deserve.
“So, to the mayor, please take the time and make sure you have this meeting with us in the upcoming days,” Tony said. “There’s so much more you need to hear to make an informed decision and your city manager, as it sits, has zero credibility and violated the law.”
Deerfield Beach officials issued a statement in response, saying, in part, “The city stands by the fact that City Manager Brimlow did not file a false criminal complaint against Sheriff Tony, and did not provide any false information of a crime to any law enforcement agency.
“What still remains is this: The Broward Sheriff’s Office requested a 10% increase in its contract for Fiscal Year 2026. When the city refused to agree to the increase, they informed the city that services would be terminated effective September 30, 2025.”
Tony reiterated that he wants to continue meeting with the mayor and commissioners.
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