By Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony
Education and training are critical components to enhancing our knowledge and performance within the public safety profession. Since I took office in 2019, the Broward Sheriff’s Office has made tremendous progress in training, education, and preparedness.
Today, I am proud to share BSO is a flagship organization for training in the State of Florida and the nation. With a 15% reduction in overall crime, we are seeing how our success is positively impacting public safety for the residents of Broward County.
BSO first responders train to maintain and enhance their ability to respond to any crisis. BSO has introduced over 80 new courses in the past four years with nearly 80,000 completed trainings. Further, we have hosted approximately 50 trainings for more than 1,000 members from local, state and federal agencies. With the completion of our new state-of-the-art training center in late 2023, we will continue to provide the most advanced public safety training in Florida.
Our commitment to training also encompasses academics. As an organization, we encourage our employees to pursue continuing education. We have partnered with universities to expand higher education and professional development opportunities. Since 2019, more than 200 employees have enrolled in higher education institutions, and over 50 employees have been awarded degrees, most at the master’s and doctorate levels. We have also increased our participation in executive-level training courses.
As an academic myself, I welcome ongoing learning opportunities – especially when it comes to public safety. Currently, I am enrolled as a doctorate student at Nova Southeastern University, pursuing a Ph.D. in criminal justice and organizational leadership. In 2022, I was selected by the FBI to participate in the prestigious National Executive Institute Leadership Course. This tremendous opportunity is given to only the top law enforcement administrators in the nation, and I was honored to be part of it.
In addition to training and education, we have continued to focus on accreditation. Accreditation is awarded to agencies that meet and exceed professional standards. Today, BSO has become Florida’s most accredited public safety organization, demonstrating our commitment to operating in compliance with industry standards and best practices. We currently hold 18 national and state accreditations, and these significant accomplishments are a source of pride within BSO’s ranks.
I am proud of our accomplishments and successes over the past four years. We will continue to push toward excellence and never become complacent in our responsibility to provide the best in public safety to this community. To learn more about our accreditations and training programs, please visit sheriff.org.
Service Equals Reward
