Latest news with #GregoryTony
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Pembroke Park police chief calls out BSO Sheriff Gregory Tony
Pembroke Park Police Chief Daniel DeCourse is accusing Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony of making "false statements" about the town's police force. The accusations come as tensions grow between the sheriff and Deerfield Beach officials over stalled negotiations for police and fire services. Pembroke Park, a small town of about 6,500 people, split from the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) in September 2022. "The false statements had to do with people that were fired for misconduct from the Broward County Sheriff'sOffice," DeCourse said. Sheriff Tony had said, "They're begging some for us to come back. We're answering the majority of their calls." "Not true," DeCourse said. The chief said they are fully staffed, responsive and saving money. "At the same token, I know that all these men and women that I have. I have great people," DeCourse added. The dust-up is the latest fallout in what has become a public dispute between the sheriff and the city of Deerfield Beach over a new public safety contract for police and fire services. Tony has blamed the city manager for stalled negotiations. According to the sheriff, he has a meeting with Deerfield Beach's mayor next week. He says that the money problem that Deerfield would have to pay over $7 million; he has a solution to that, that they have alternatives where it would not be quite as much, and also would not have any impact on taxpayers.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
BSO sheriff, Deerfield Beach clash over police and fire contract costs
The dispute between the city of Deerfield Beach and the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) over a new contract for police and fire services boiled over with a social media post from Sheriff Gregory Tony. "I will take on this corrupt city manager and his position head-on," said Tony. After the message, the sheriff posted a copy of a roll call with Deerfield deputies from last week. In the meeting, the sheriff said he is fighting for raises, but that he isn't getting cooperation from the city manager, Rodney Brimlow. According to Deerfield, BSO is asking for an additional $7.25 million to cover raises for hundreds of BSO deputies and firefighters, but Deerfield said that's $2.3 million over an agreed yearly "cap" on contract costs. In the roll call, the sheriff asks deputies, "You tell me if I should go nuclear and destroy him, because I have the power." Deerfield said someone forwarded a copy of the roll call to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Brimlow was a decades-long Deerfield captain-a loyalist, the sheriff says-until Brimlow became city manager a few months ago. The sheriff claims Brimlow has provided "misinformation, false information, or incomplete information to the elected body so they can make the appropriate decision." "We did not pick this fight," said Deerfield Mayor Todd Drosky. Brimlow was not available for comment. The mayor said the sheriff ended the contract, but the sheriff denies that has happened. Drosky said they are considering all options, including running their own police and fire departments.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
10 Broward deputies ‘recommended for termination' after Tamarac murders, union says
Ten Broward Sheriff's deputies and sergeants have been 'recommended for termination' as of Friday, according to a statement from the union, after triple murders in Tamarac in February led to an internal investigation of numerous deputies. The union's statement shared Friday evening with the South Florida Sun Sentinel does not name any of the 10 deputies or sergeants. The Sheriff's Office's Internal Affairs investigation is still open and active, spokesperson Carey Codd said in an email Friday night. On a Sunday morning in February, Nathan Gingles, 43, had shot and killed his father-in-law, David Ponzer, then took the couple's 4-year-old daughter Seraphine as he chased his estranged wife, Mary Gingles, through the neighborhood before killing her as well as Andrew Ferrin, 36, a stranger whose home she had run into to try to escape, according to the Sheriff's Office. Mary Gingles repeatedly had sought help from the Sheriff's Office, saying in a court petition that she believed her husband was going to kill her. The gun Nathan Gingles is accused of using was one he had been ordered to surrender to the Sheriff's Office, but he never did. He is now charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony promised to hold his deputies accountable following the deadly shooting. Broward Deputy Sheriffs Association President Dan Rakofsky in the statement called the disciplinary process 'biased' and a 'scapegoating of our members in the pursuit of public relations goals.' The statement condemned Sheriff Tony's message at a news conference held in the days following the murders, where he said his agency could have possibly saved the lives of three people but they 'failed.' 'It's very frustrating for me to have to stand here and witness this and know that we're an organization who has had our trials, from one active shooter event at the airport, to Stoneman Douglas, to one tragedy after the next,' Tony said at the February news conference. 'This evening, we see the consequences of inappropriate public statements and premature release of information. The Sheriff's press conference, three days after the heinous and horrific murders in Tamarac, was a dog whistle and clear message to what was supposed to be an unbiased Professional Standards Committee,' the statement said. 'The BSO members on the committee that voted on the recommendations concerning which administrative violations to sustain and what discipline to impose are all at-will employees who were undoubtedly in a very awkward position, as their tenure is subject to the whims of the Sheriff.' Two employees were previously fired: Deputy Stephen Tapia in June 'for failure to meet probationary standards' and Jemeriah Cooper in May, the former head of the Tamarac district who was demoted to deputy before his termination. The number of deputies who came under investigation after the murders grew over several months from seven initially to at least 15. 'Gaps in the agency's capabilities have been exposed' in the aftermath of the murders, the union's statement said, 'along with many systemic and institutional processes in need of better oversight and/or revision.' This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Police set record straight after dad's incredible cruise ship rescue of daughter
Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony has officially clarified a dad's heroic role in saving his daughter - after online rumours falsely claimed he had caused the terrifying incident Officials have been forced to dispel vicious online rumours that a hero dad who leapt off a cruise ship to save his daughter had caused the accident. The five-year-old girl plummeted from the fourth deck of the $900million (£661million) Disney Dream cruise ship as it travelled from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale. Showing incredible bravery, her 37-year-old dad immediately jumped 50ft into the ocean, before spending 20 minutes holding her while treading water until they were rescued. His daring efforts were initially applauded online, before viral theories emerged saying he had lifted her on to a railing to take a photograph before she fell. Broward County Sheriff's Office has now officially disspelled the rumours, explaining that the girl had been sitting on a railing when she fell through a porthole and into the ocean. However, they were clear the dad had not put her there. Sheriff Gregory Tony told reporters: 'After the girl's mother alerted her husband, who didn't see the incident, he jumped into the ocean to save his daughter. 'BSO detectives said after the 37-year-old father found his daughter, he treaded water until they were rescued by a tender that was launched from the ship.' The father's version of events has been corroborated thanks to surveillance footage aboard the ship. 'This family is so blessed. It's great to be able to respond to good news rather than what could have been a tragic outcome,' he said. The alarm was raised moments after the girl fell in the water, with "man overboard" warnings sounding through the entire ship. The speed of the alarm helped rescuers act quickly. Thousands of fellow passengers watched on in horror as rings were chucked into the ocean and a rescue craft raced to the scene. One witness, passenger Nikki Samsill Jackson, told the Daily Mail: 'When they were rescued, dad had his arms around his child and he was treading water. Everybody was cheering.' Elinor Finkelstein, a New Yorker aboard the cruise, witnessed the drama play out, but said crew members did a great job of "not panicking at all." Finkelstein said: "(They) kept everyone calm. No frenzy or screaming. Everyone was concentrating on the scene. It was an absolute miracle." The passenger told how an emergency "Mr M.O.B" alert rang out over the intercom - code signifying a person overboard. Finkelstein told ARC Rochester: "I first heard the Mr. Mob announcement over the speakers probably between 11.15 to 11.30 in the morning. I went up to the pool deck and everybody was standing around watching. "Seeing the boat go out and seeing that rescue happen was incredible. I had no idea that a cruise ship could turn around so quickly. It was a successful rescue, and by about 11.50ish, the boat was back to the ship. Everyone was cheering, and it was definitely a miracle."
The Sun
03-07-2025
- The Sun
Truth about hero dad who leapt off Disney cruise to save daughter, 5, revealed – as glam doc seen cradling girl is named
THE truth about the hero dad who leapt off a Disney cruise ship to save his five-year-old daughter has been revealed. Police have officially shut down swirling rumours about the father's role in Sunday's terrifying incident. 7 7 7 7 It comes as the glamorous doctor seen cradling the rescued girl has now been named as Alyssa Charles. The child fell from the fourth deck of the $900 million Disney Dream around 11.30am as the vessel made its way back to Fort Lauderdale from the Bahamas. Her dad, 37, immediately dived roughly 50ft into the ocean in a desperate attempt to save her. He reportedly kept the little girl afloat for nearly 20 minutes before the pair were rescued by ship crew. Initially hailed as a hero, the dad soon became the target of online outrage amid widespread - and now debunked - claims that he had lifted the child onto a 42.5-inch railing to take a photo, causing her to fall. But on Wednesday, the Broward County Sheriff's Office officially refuted that viral theory. Sheriff Gregory Tony said the child was sitting on the railing and fell backwards through a porthole - but made it clear that the dad did not put her there. He said in a press briefing: 'After the girl's mother alerted her husband, who didn't see the incident, he jumped into the ocean to save his daughter. 'BSO detectives said after the 37-year-old father found his daughter, he treaded water until they were rescued by a tender that was launched from the ship.' Tony added that security video from the Disney Dream corroborated the family's version of events. 'This family is so blessed. It's great to be able to respond to good news rather than what could have been a tragic outcome,' he said. The girl's fall triggered an immediate man overboard alarm and emergency code "Mr MOB" across the ship, launching a high-speed rescue effort that played out in front of hundreds of stunned passengers. Witnesses described frantic scenes as life rings were hurled into the ocean and a yellow rescue craft raced from the vessel to reach the dad-daughter duo. Passenger Nikki Samsill Jackson told the Daily Mail: 'When they were rescued, dad had his arms around his child and he was treading water. 'Everybody was cheering.' Passenger Chandler, who spoke to People, said she heard a loud thud after the fall. 'It sounded like hitting pavement, nothing like if you jump into a pool,' she said, describing an 'awful' scream she believed came from the girl's mother. 7 7 Glam doctor revealed Once pulled from the water, it wasn't her dad but a mystery woman seen cradling the rescued girl that captured attention online. That woman has now been identified as Dr Alyssa Charles, the Disney Dream's lead physician. Charles, a pediatric and emergency care specialist from South Africa, was seen holding the girl gently in her lap, stroking her hair as she assessed her condition. The footage went viral, with people praising her for the heartwarming care she provided. 'She was holding her like her own!' one user posted. 'The rescuer rubbing her head,' another wrote, adding a crying emoji. Charles, who joined Disney Cruise Line in August last year, has previously worked at the Red Cross and travelled the world as a cruise doctor. Her sister Jasmine confirmed her identity in a proud Instagram post: 'That's my sister! Doctor on the rescue boat!' The girl appeared healthy after the terrifying ordeal, though her dad was reportedly injured while keeping her afloat and was taken to hospital after the ship returned to port. Police declined to specify the nature of his injuries. Disney has since praised its staff for their swift response. A spokesperson said: 'The crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water. 'We commend our crew members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions. 'This incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols.' Cruise officials are continuing to review how the girl was able to fall though cops have made it clear that no foul play is suspected. The Disney Dream, which carries up to 3,500 passengers and can reach speeds of 25mph, was last refurbished in 2024. It docked in Fort Lauderdale on Monday before continuing its five-day itinerary to Nassau and Disney Lookout Cay. The cruise is due to return to Florida on Saturday. 7
