PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. — Broward County may once again directly run its own fire rescue service ― and commissioners could also consider booting the Broward Sheriff’s Office from two other high-profile roles on the policing side.
After more than two decades of having BSO run the county fire department, commissioners are looking at managing fire and emergency medical services on their own.
BSO took over the former Broward County Fire Rescue ― and separate airport and port fire departments ― in 2003, becoming Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue.
The county is looking at bringing on a consulting firm to study a plan to bring the fire rescue service back into the fold. Commissioners were set to vote on a measure to do that on Tuesday.
Commissioner Lamar Fisher sponsored the proposal.
“It is time to really look at the detail of what it would look like to bring them back to Broward County,” Commissioner Lamar Fisher said. “I think it is cost savings number one, but obviously public safety is number one to the board itself and we want to make sure that we provide the best safety to our residents and our visitors here in Broward County.”
Fisher added that Sheriff Gregory Tony has been granted funds for pay raises, hiring, resources and new equipment. He said it’s imperative that the county look at more cost-effective ways to serve the public.
“(Tony) has the right to do whatever they want to with that money so it is frustrating to us at then end of the day but that is his will to do so,” Fisher said. “By bringing (fire rescue) back, we have full control and full transparency to the constituents that we serve.”
Unlike many Florida sheriff’s offices, which have large, populated unincorporated areas to patrol by default, the vast majority of BSO’s policing and firefighting work are done in cities that pay for the agency’s services in lieu of having in-house departments.
But after losing the policing contract in Pembroke Park and the policing and firefighting contracts in Deerfield Beach ― with Pompano Beach mulling a BSO breakup of its own ― the same county agenda item puts another one of BSO’s prominent roles in the crosshairs: airport and port policing.
A consulting firm could “study the feasibility of establishing” county-run police departments at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades, both owned by the county, to replace BSO.
Fisher said the new agency or agencies would have “the same coverage, the same police opportunities, the same comfort” as BSO.
“But at the end of the day, we have got to look at this to make sure that this is prudent for us as a county,” Fisher said.
Commissioners emphasized that Tuesday’s vote would not be to replace firefighting or police services ― just one to study the matter.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Broward Sheriff’s Office said, in part, “For more than 22 years, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue has been a cornerstone of public safety in Broward County by saving lives, easing suffering and protecting property.”
It continued, “Through high-quality fire and emergency services, crews respond 24/7 to protect residents and visitors across Broward County when it matters the most.”
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