Broward County Commission Meeting – October 13, 2026

The Broward County Commission convened at 9:20 a.m. on October 13, 2026, in Room 422 of the Broward County Governmental Center, and adjourned at 9:50 a.m. The only regular agenda item was a motion introduced by Mayor Mark D. Bogen authorizing the County Attorney’s Office to take legal action to secure access to County-owned and County-leased facilities used by the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), including the Research, Development and Training Center (RDTC). After discussion, the motion was approved at 9:26 a.m. by a vote of 7-0.

Consent Calendar

• None; no consent agenda items were presented.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public addressed the Commission during this meeting.

Discussion Items

• Mayor Bogen said the action was not directed at BSO deputies or first responders, whom he praised as heroes, but at Sheriff Gregory Tony. He described the Sheriff as refusing to disclose information, locking doors, hiding in his office making videos, and failing to appear at Commission meetings. He said County books are open, taxpayers deserve to know how every dollar is spent, and asked what is being hidden.
• Mayor Bogen stated that Sheriff Tony has said each Commissioner is under criminal investigation; the County Attorney said she was not aware of any criminal investigation involving commissioners or staff.
• Mayor Bogen criticized the Sheriff’s use of a “cone of silence,” saying that term normally relates to procurement and appeared to come from a 1960s/70s TV show; he asked to see an order supporting it.
• The County Attorney explained the motion authorizes the County Attorney’s Office to continue working with BSO and the County Administrator to gain access, and to file suit if necessary. She noted the property is owned by the Board of County Commissioners of Broward County.
• One commissioner compared the County to a landlord and suggested requesting a scheduled, courteous inspection before taking more forceful action. Mayor Bogen responded that BSO had been informed days in advance and that a formal appointment request differs from notice of intent to visit.
• Another commissioner noted the Sheriff had called the RDTC a protected facility, but the gym is not protected; the motion only gives the County Attorney authority to act where appropriate.
• A commissioner spoke about budget transparency, saying BSO’s total funding from cities, state, federal grants, task forces, and forfeitures is not known, making it hard to assess requests for more money.
• The same commissioner, a lawyer of 44 years, said the underlying event was a subpoena duces tecum for records, not a crime, and that such subpoenas are routine for law enforcement.
• A commissioner read comparative budget figures: county agencies increased 2.7% in 2025 while BSO received an 8.7% increase; in 2026 county agencies saw a net reduction of 0.07% while the Sheriff received a 3.1% increase; in the current year county general fund agencies received a 3.4% increase while BSO received a 6.4% increase. They called the trend unsustainable and asked Sheriff Tony to stop “unwarranted and untrue shots” and social media attacks.
• Several commissioners sought to clarify the motion’s scope: it authorizes, but does not require, immediate litigation. County Administrator Monica Cepero said multiple emails requesting fire-rescue coordination since the September 22, 2026 vote and a tour of the RDTC had received no response from BSO.
• Commissioner Hazelle P. Rogers asked what recourse exists beyond court; County Administrator Cepero suggested adding a legislative-program request or sending a letter to legislative leaders. The County Attorney said the Sheriff does not report to the Legislature. Commissioner Steve Geller said sheriffs are powerful in Tallahassee and that a recent law allowing sheriffs to move budget money was passed over county objections after the Alachua County case; he saw little chance of legislative change.
• Another commissioner distinguished the Sheriff’s core budget from contractual services such as fire rescue, airport, CPO, and 911, saying contract disputes can be addressed in court and that professional staff likely would be let into the building before suit; if not, lawsuits would be appropriate.

Key Outcomes

• The Commission approved the motion to authorize and direct the County Attorney’s Office to take all appropriate legal action to enable Broward County to access and inspect all County-owned and County-leased facilities used by BSO, including the RDTC, and to take any other legal action necessary against BSO to enforce the County’s rights.
• Vote: 7-0. Commissioner Alexandra P. Davis and Commissioner Nan H. Rich were not present. Note: The published agenda initially listed all nine commissioners as present, but the minutes and vote notation indicate Davis and Rich were absent.
• The next step is continued negotiation and attempts to schedule access; the County Attorney has authority to litigate if access is not granted.