Broward County move to sue sheriff over denied access to county facility
Key Points(5)
- The motion, introduced by Mayor Mark Bogen, directs the County Attorney’s Office to take “any and all appropriate legal action” necessary to enable the county to access and inspect those facilities, specifically including the Research, Development and Training Center (RDTC).
- It also authorizes the office to take other legal action necessary to enforce the county’s rights against BSO.
- The vote followed a confrontation Monday, when Bogen and several commissioners attempted to enter the sheriff’s headquarters to inspect the training facility, but were denied access.
- A deputy told the group, which included members of the media, that a visit had to be scheduled through the sheriff’s office.
- County leaders contend they should be able to access the facility because the county owns the building.
Broward County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize legal action against Sheriff Gregory Tony’s office to gain access to county-owned facilities, escalating a dispute over financial transparency, public spending and the sheriff’s authority.
The vote followed an unsuccessful attempt Monday by County Mayor Mark Bogen and two commissioners to enter the Broward Sheriff’s Office’s Research, Development and Training Center (RDTC), where county officials wanted to inspect a training facility that has drawn questions about its cost.
The motion directs the County Attorney’s Office to take “any and all appropriate legal action” necessary to secure access to the facilities, including the RDTC, and enforce the county’s rights against the sheriff’s office. It does not mean a lawsuit has already been filed.
During an emergency commission meeting Tuesday, Bogen said the county should be able to inspect property it owns and review how taxpayer money is spent.
“The taxpayers of Broward County deserve to know how every dollar is being spent,” he said.
Bogen and the commissioners were turned away from the sheriff’s headquarters Monday. A deputy told the group, which included members of the media, that visits had to be scheduled through the sheriff’s office.
Tony has maintained that commissioners cannot enter sheriff’s office facilities unannounced to conduct inspections or audits. He has also accused county officials of using the dispute for political purposes.
In a social media video posted shortly after Tuesday’s vote, Tony called the commission’s decision foolish and said it could cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“They also don't have the legal purview to this demand that they can walk into a facility unannounced at any point in time in some type of audit capacity or some inspection capacity. They don't have that authority,” Tony said.
He characterized the commission’s actions as a political stunt and warned that he viewed the dispute as an attack on the constitutional powers and authority of sheriffs.
“An attack on the Sheriff's constitutional powers and authority will prompt a unified response from all 67 sheriffs,” Tony said in the video, which he shared on Facebook.
Tony also said he was in contact with attorneys at the Florida Sheriffs Association and was waiting to see what action the county would take next.
Dispute extends to sheriff’s finances
The fight over access to the training facility is part of a broader dispute that has stalled budget negotiations between the county and the sheriff’s office.
County officials have questioned BSO’s spending and the extent of the commission’s authority to examine the agency’s finances. Bogen last week announced plans to direct the county auditor to investigate the sheriff’s spending and request budget documents, warning that the county could pursue legal action if the records were not voluntarily provided.
Bogen has argued that greater financial disclosure could resolve the conflict.
“Everything stops if they just open their books and say, ‘Here is what we’re spending our money on.’ It’s that simple,” he said.
Commissioner Steve Geller has also questioned how much funding BSO receives from sources beyond the county, including state and federal governments.
Geller said the county has allocated approximately $885 million to the sheriff’s office, but commissioners do not have a complete picture of its funding from other sources.
“We know how much he gets from the county. We know how much he gets from the cities. I don’t know how much he gets from the state, federal government,” Geller said.
Geller also cited differences in annual funding increases between BSO and other county agencies. According to figures he presented, funding for other county agencies increased 2.7% in 2025, compared with an 8.7% increase for BSO.
In 2026, funding for other county agencies declined slightly while BSO’s funding rose 3.1%. For 2027, funding for other county agencies increased 3.4%, compared with a 6.4% increase for BSO.
The sheriff’s office has argued that it needs additional funding to cover salary increases.
Tony has rejected the commission’s position on financial oversight and has said BSO is operating under a “cone of silence” because of what he described as an ongoing criminal investigation involving the county commission by a statewide prosecutor.
Broward County Attorney Annika Ashton said Tuesday that she was unaware of any such investigation involving commissioners or county staff.
“Mayor, I’m not aware of any criminal investigation on any of the commissioners or any of our staff,” Ashton said during the emergency meeting.
Tony previously told reporters Monday that he would not be pressured into granting access while county officials remained under what he described as a “massive criminal investigation.” He also denied allegations surrounding the dispute and said employees who wished to withdraw their names from a letter connected to the controversy would remain employed.
Broader fight over sheriff’s responsibilities
The confrontation comes amid a wider effort by county commissioners to reconsider which services should remain under BSO’s control.
In September, the commission voted to take Broward County Fire Rescue out of the sheriff’s office and return it to county oversight. Commissioners have also discussed transferring other responsibilities, including airport and seaport security and the county’s regional 911 emergency response system.
The dispute over the RDTC has become another flashpoint in the strained relationship between the sheriff’s office and the county government that funds it. Broward’s fiscal 2027 budget year began Oct. 1, with BSO’s funding reported at approximately $875 million.
Tuesday’s vote gives the County Attorney’s Office authority to pursue legal remedies if necessary to secure access to county-owned facilities. Whether the dispute proceeds to court will depend on the county’s next steps and the sheriff’s response.
A legal challenge would add another front to the increasingly contentious relationship between Tony and the commission, which is also considering changes to the sheriff’s responsibilities and seeking greater scrutiny of public spending.
