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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDeSantis owns this huge mistake: He must suspend Sheriff Tony (Editorial)
Sun Sentinelhttps://archive.ph/QPhbI
He removed Tampas twice-elected state attorney from office for making statements on abortion that he didnt like. But he leaves Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony in charge of one of the largest law enforcement agencies in Florida, despite his history of lying about his past on official documents.
Tony should never have been appointed sheriff in the first place. But he was in sloppy, hurried fashion by DeSantis himself, without a full background check that should have raised enough red flags to derail his appointment. This irresponsible lack of vetting has brought needless embarrassment to Broward County and to the dedicated professionals who proudly wear the BSO uniform, many of whom risk their lives to protect the public.
The sheriff should have resigned long ago, as we urged in 2020, but he refused. The voters of Broward, who reflexively vote for Democrats and who had no credible alternatives on the ballot, elected him to a four-year term two years ago. We refused to endorse Tony or either of his opponents in that election, warning voters that Tonys problems would only get worse and they have.
The Florida Commission on Ethics has found probable cause that Tony misused his official position by lying on a police job application, drivers license renewal and state law enforcement certification form.
dalton99a
(81,599 posts)In his application for the Coral Springs Police Department, he answered no to "Have you ever been arrested, charged, received a notice or summons to appear for any criminal violation?", but Tony states he was not "technically" charged with a crime.[12] DeSantis did not know about the shooting prior to appointing Tony and it did not come up in a background check during vetting.[13][12] When asked about the shooting, Tony denied he was arrested, saying that he simply went to the police station to provide a statement and was allowed to leave with his father.[14][12]
On January 7, 2020, Gregory Tony filled out a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Affidavit of Applicant form. On this official document, Tony checked off no to the question of ever having a criminal record sealed or expunged. Tony asserts that since he does not have a criminal record, he filled out the form correctly. However, on May 8, 2020, FDLE announced the matter had been upgraded from an inquiry to an investigation.[15]
On May 19, 2020, it was discovered that in 2003, Tony applied to the Tallahassee Police Department. Ultimately, Tony was rejected for employment after admitting to using LSD. Tony then applied to the Coral Springs Police Department, at which time Tony omitted his drug use from his application.[16]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Tony
JoeTheRat
(50 posts)That assumes, knowing DeSantis' dirty tricks, this is a mistake.
TigressDem
(5,125 posts)What sane and rational people see as RED FLAGS, rethugs take as exceptional criteria of qualification to oppress and rule.
BComplex
(8,067 posts)That cannot POSSIBLY be legal!
In It to Win It
(8,285 posts)under certain conditions.
It's questionable whether DeSantis' suspension of the state attorney met those conditions.
Lucinda
(31,170 posts)oldsoftie
(12,612 posts)and not defending him, but isn't it legal to answer "no" when its a juvenile record? I've heard that before but I don't know.
Zilli
(190 posts)do not exist in DeathSantistan. This is how he will tyrannically govern when he is declared god king by the sadistic court, succeeding 45. Hopefully this horrific nightmare fantasy will never come to pass if We The People can somehow wrestle back a court that at one time may have been perceived to be Supreme but has fallen into illegitimacy.