Sheriff Gregory Tony
Since taking command of the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Gregory Tony’s dynamic and progressive leadership has transformed BSO into one of the most accountable, progressive and respected public safety agencies in Florida.
As Broward County’s 17th sheriff and the first African-American to serve in this capacity, Sheriff Tony brings a wealth of experience, unique skillset and passion for public safety to BSO. Guided by his North Star belief that service equals reward, Sheriff Tony has led efforts to revamp BSO and restore trust in the agency by implementing a host of initiatives focused on bolstering training, building stronger community relationships, providing our youth with expanded opportunities for success and ensuring our employees are held to the highest standards of professionalism and accountability.
Growing up in inner-city Philadelphia, Sheriff Tony learned from an early age the determination and selflessness that is needed to be an effective police officer. He experienced firsthand the prejudices that exist between minority youth and law enforcement and the difference that must be made in order to change the negative perceptions. As sheriff, he has used his experiences as a launching pad to implement forward-thinking policies to better connect with the many diverse communities BSO serves.
Sheriff Tony established his home in the Sunshine State when he moved to Florida to play football at Florida State University under the leadership of legendary coach Bobby Bowden. He graduated from FSU with a degree in criminology and later received a master’s degree in criminal justice from Nova Southeastern University. He is currently enrolled as a doctorate student at Nova Southeastern University where he is earning a Ph.d in Criminal Justice. As an adjunct college professor for the past ten years, he continues to share his knowledge and experiences in the classroom. Sheriff Tony understands the importance of mentoring the next generations that are interested in criminal justice.
Sheriff Tony began his law enforcement career in 2005 with the Coral Springs Police Department where he served on the SWAT team and rose to the rank of sergeant. He also worked in narcotics investigation, burglary apprehension, street intelligence and field force. While with the CSPD, he received numerous awards, commendations and honors.
Later, too aware of the numerous active shooter and mass bombing tragedies occurring throughout the country and around the world, Sheriff Tony focused on running his security firm specializing in precise training and providing threat assessments for both public and private sector entities. The training platform developed is currently being used by thousands of people across the world.
Since he assumed leadership of BSO in January 2019, Sheriff Tony has been unafraid to tackle controversial matters that can, at times, put him at odds with other law enforcement officials and politicians. Doing what is right, not what is convenient, is his driving force. His priorities include:
Accountability: Sheriff Tony is always working to build public trust by bringing accountability and transparency to this agency and to this community. Today, all BSO deputies are held accountable for their actions and know that egregious use of force will never be tolerated. He has accomplished this by appointing new members to the Professional Standards Committee, which includes minority members from the community, to review internal disciplinary matters. In addition, he has established a Use of Force Review Board, the first ever in BSO’s history. All Department of Law Enforcement deputies have body worn cameras and are required to activate them prior to any interaction with civilians. Finally, he is also allocating approximately $1 million to implement racial equity and implicit bias training programs.
Community Policing: Sheriff Tony has instilled into the agency his core belief of community policing. Within months of taking office, Sheriff Tony launched the Neighborhood Support Team (NST) and Park, Walk and Talk initiatives that are strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the vibrant and diverse communities BSO serves.
Diversity: To better serve our communities, we must reflect our citizens. Sheriff Tony has diversified the agency to reflect Broward County. Due to his efforts, BSO has the most experienced and diverse command staff in the agency’s history with more women and minorities than ever before.
School Safety: Sheriff Tony has worked diligently to improve the safety of our schools. Within months of taking office, Sheriff Tony launched the Real Time Crime Center, which gives BSO the ability to monitor surveillance cameras across all Broward County Public Schools. He has also expanded the Guardian Program and developed an active shooter training curriculum and video. In addition, BSO has provided Bleeding Control Kits to all road patrol deputies as well as public schools.
Training and Preparedness: BSO’s training division and course curriculums reflect today’s public safety priorities. Sheriff Tony reallocated $1 million to increase the manpower of BSO’s training division. BSO is the first agency in the state of Florida to have a nationally-certified active shooter training unit, and in collaboration with our federal partners, BSO has certified instructors in Active Shooter and Basic Tactical Medical Response, FBI ALERRT Program and Incident Command Structure. For the first time in BSO history, construction for a $30 million state-of-the-art Training Center, funded with the existing budget, has broken ground, which will provide for more intensive, frequent training to address today’s public safety challenges.
Investing in our Future: Sheriff Tony expanded youth programs and opportunities to further develop the ambition of our young people. BSO established the Bureau of Recruiting to ensure we are hiring the most diverse, qualified personnel. He also helped develop the BSO Legacy Program, which provides scholarships, sponsorships and internship opportunities. The program’s objective focuses on helping minority students reach their goal of a career in public safety.
Sheriff Tony is happily married to his wife, Holly, a registered nurse. He will continue to bring the same tireless work ethic that has been characteristic of his career to ensure BSO remains the finest public safety agency in South Florida.
Let your smile light the way and never let anyone dim your light. Remember, tough times don't last, but tough people do
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony
(954) 831-8901
https://www.sheriff.org/Pages/Home.aspx
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