Incumbent Gregory Tony secured the Democratic nomination in Tuesday’s Primary Election for the Broward County Sheriff’s race, emerging victorious with 50% of the vote. Tony outpaced his closest rival, Steven “Steve” Geller, who garnered 33% of the vote, followed by Al Pollock with 12%, and David Howard with 5%.
“I’m truly honored to once again be selected by the Democratic Party to serve as their nominee,” Tony said in a statement. “For approximately six years, I’ve focused on reforming the Broward Sheriff’s Office into the finest public safety organization in the country. I’m extremely grateful for the people’s continued trust and confidence in my administration. My devotion to the people of Broward County will remain steadfast. I will always prioritize public safety over politics.”
Tony will face an independent challenger in the November general election.
As the head of Florida’s largest sheriff’s office, Tony oversees 5,800 employees, including over 2,700 certified deputies and more than 700 fire rescue professionals. The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) operates with an annual budget nearing $1 billion and provides law enforcement services in 14 cities and towns across Broward County, as well as its unincorporated areas, covering over one-third of the county.
Appointed sheriff in 2019 by Governor Ron DeSantis, Tony stepped into the role following the removal of his predecessor, Scott Israel, for alleged mishandling of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018. The Florida Senate later upheld this decision.
Tony’s tenure has not been without controversy. In 2022, a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) report revealed that Tony had repeatedly lied on his police applications, failing to disclose a fatal shooting he was involved in at age 14, which was later ruled self-defense. Although the FDLE concluded that Tony could not be criminally charged due to the statute of limitations, the report highlighted the omission of this crucial information.
Further scrutiny arose when it was discovered that Tony had lied on his police and Florida driver’s license applications, denying that his license had ever been suspended, despite a suspension in Pennsylvania in 1996 for unpaid traffic tickets. The most recent instance occurred in 2019 when Tony applied for a new license shortly after becoming sheriff.
In April of this year, the FDLE recommended suspending Tony’s law enforcement certification for six months due to the allegations of lying on his driver’s license applications. However, an administrative law judge later recommended a less severe punishment: a written reprimand, mandatory ethics training, and an 18-month probationary period.
Despite these controversies, Tony has remained focused on the initiatives he’s implemented during his time as sheriff. Under his leadership, the Broward Sheriff’s Office has established the first-ever Research, Development, and Training Center in its 109-year history. Tony has also introduced enhanced training for mass shooting events and a countywide Racial Equity and Implicit Bias Training Program, reflecting his commitment to fostering a more just and equitable community.
He has also held his employees accountable for misconduct. Over the past year, Tony has worked with other law enforcement agencies to investigate several BSO officers for fraud, resulting in multiple arrests.
Looking ahead, Gregory Tony plans to continue building community trust, reducing emergency response times, and prioritizing training and development within the department.
