Building On Our Successes

By Sheriff Gregory Tony

To build something great starts first with a strong foundation. The Broward Sheriff's Office is constructed intentionally with each component dependent on the next for structure, strength, and durability. The innovative programs and initiatives we have put in place are contributing to a safer Broward County and are paving a path toward continued success. Continue reading to learn more about some of these exciting new initiatives.

A cornerstone of our foundation is our commitment to helping individuals suffering a mental health crisis. BSO's new Co-Responder Program is an innovative approach to assisting individuals in crisis by pairing a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained deputy with a licensed mental health clinician to respond to calls for service. Their collaboration provides immediate advantages as they are able to more accurately determine the needs of the person or persons in distress and connect them to the necessary community resources.

CIT is one of the many types of training we have at BSO. In only a few years, we have raised the training standards for all our first responders and agency personnel. Soon we will be able to house all this training under one roof. Construction crews are making incredible progress on BSO's state-of-the-art training center. Once completed, the 103,000-square-foot facility will be the first dedicated on-site training facility in our organization's 107year history. The training center will undoubtedly be one of the best in the state and mark a significant milestone that will bring us closer to furthering our commitment to public safety.

As our training becomes increasingly proficient, so too does our technology. Recently, BSO's Crime Lab acquired a high-tech instrument that better sequences DNA to identify people. The machine can help determine specific information about the person the DNA came from, including hair and eye color. This valuable new tool will aid in investigations of homicides, sexual assaults, and acts of terrorism. It can also be used to identify human remains.

Lastly, I want to recognize our regional specialized units, which continue to grow in their accomplishments. These units work daily to assist all residents of Broward County and other local public safety agencies. Last year, BSO's Aviation Unit received worldwide recognition for its excellence, winning the 2022 Leadership in Police Aviation Award from the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Teledyne FLIR PURSUIT award. In the first ten months of 2022 alone, the unit directed deputies on the ground to make nearly 1,000 arrests. The BSO Aviation Unit, and all our specialized units, such as K-9 Unit, Bomb Squad, and Hazardous Materials Unit, respond wherever needed. These units have made our county immeasurably safer, and I'm confident they will continue to make great strides in the coming year.

This highlights only a few of the many new and exciting programs we will continue to build upon in 2023. We have a lot to look forward to.

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