Deputy shoots shackled man with stun gun in Broward courtroom

The following is information that was given to the Sun-Sentinel related to the article dated March 29, 2007, but was not included in their reporting of the story.

The inmate involved, Kevin Bradley, has a history of violent outbursts in the courtroom. In fact, the day before, because of fears he may once again become disruptive, the Judge's courtroom staff filed a "High-Risk Notification" form. This is a form that requests additional security in the courtroom for defendants that have a history of violence. According to the notification (filed the day before his court appearance), Bradley "has shown aggressive behavior in past appearances in court."

This information was given to the Sun-Sentinel, but apparently not considered relevant enough to include in the story.

Following the incident, it is standard procedure to take anyone who has been involved in a taser incident to the be medically checked out. Bradley suffered no injuries. The courtroom deputy that he grabbed however, did suffer minor injuries to his arm.

Charity spends little, hoards a bundle

The following is information that was given to the Miami Herald related to the article dated March 18, 2007, but was not included in their reporting of the story.

CLARIFICATION:

The money. The $1.5 million from the case settlement remains in a restricted account within the Foundation. The money was originally reserved for a regional data/intelligence project that BSO began creating several years ago. The state-led Florida Department of Law Enforcement took note of BSO's project, and asked that BSO suspend its project until FDLE could create a system to be used across Florida. The FDLE continues to work on developing an intelligence database that will join together agencies across the state.

Therefore, to report that the Foundation is "hoarding" the money is incorrect. The money remains designated for the regional data/intelligence project. BSO joins several other large agencies on a task force to continually re-evaluate technological advances and how best to serve the Southeast region with an advanced data/intelligence product.

What can the money be used for? The rules governing what the money can be spent on were developed with consultation by the same federal government officials that allocated the money to the Southeast Regional Domestic Security Taskforce. Those rules, while including environmental concerns, also include emergency response improvements. There is no language in the approved resolution that indicates the money can only be used for environmental purposes. As a matter of fact, Judge Michael Moore specifically signed the Special Conditions of Supervision which required the defendant (Carnival Cruise Lines) to pay $2 million to the “Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County – Domestic Security Task Force.”

It should be noted that the Foundation is a private charity not funded by public tax dollars, not run by the Broward Sheriff's Office, and controlled by an independent Board of Directors. All expenditures of monies of the Foundation must be approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Board of Directors are self-selected. Sheriff Jenne is an ex-officio board member and not a voting member of the Board of Directors.

Countywide Counseling of Officers. It is noted in the article that countywide counseling for officers with job-related stress or drinking problems was never funded. That is incorrect. There is funding available in the Foundation. To-date, there has not been a request for this type of service.

By The Sea Times News Flash

The following are excerpts from a By The Sea Times article dated March 14, 2007, along with corrections and clarifications regarding the reporting in the story.

"...At last nights commission meeting we were introduced to LBTS’s new BSO fire chief, (the old one, Chief Fraley after making a mess of things left for Weston)...."

CLARIFICATION: The contract between BSO and Lauderdale-By-The-Sea never did include the assignment of a Battalion Chief, and in fact the Town does not cover the cost of a Battalion Chief assigned there. Never-the-less, BSO Fire Rescue assigned Chief John Frailey to LBTS because of the safety problems created by the paid volunteer department. Because of the leadership he demonstrated while handling those safety issues, Chief Frailey is being promoted. Following Frailey's promotion, BSO Fire Rescue has decided to continue its commitment to the Town and keep the additional position in LBTS even though the Town does not cover the additional cost.

"...Jenne’s Broward Sheriff's Office tried to side slip into Deerfield’s public funds by first going under the voters’ radar by merging with the city's fire-rescue department and by leasing of Deerfield’s fire property."

CLARIFICATION: Every step in the process to pursue a possible merger with Deerfield Beach Fire Rescue was in the open. Sheriff Ken Jenne himself made the initial proposal at a public meeting. When Deerfield city officials first approached BSO about a merger, neither the City nor BSO was aware that the city's ordinance involving the lease of property would come into play. Following several public meetings it was determined by the Deerfield city attorney that the issue of leasing property to BSO would need to be put to public referendum. Once that determination was made, BSO waited for the voters to have that opportunity before resuming discussions.

"...Jenne’s regime has been spending tax payers’ money like a drunken sailor in efforts to have a Napoleonic takeover of all police and fire firefighting in Broward County."

CLARIFICATION: The Broward Sheriff's Office does not approach cities regarding providing any kind of services. BSO does not "pitch" itself to municipalities. Only after the leaders of a city express a desire to pursue a possible merger with the agency will BSO begin discussions. BSO does not make any profit from providing either law enforcment or fire rescue services to cities. It is up to the elected leaders in each city or town to determine what level of public safety services they want for their residents. Regarding the Deerfield referendum, public taxpayer money was not spent on efforts to influence voters on the issues.

"...The additional costs for BSO’s services would have cost homeowners in Deerfield an average around $82.00 per year."

CORRECTION: This is absolutely wrong. Based on the figures presented to the public and Deerfield Beach leaders at open meetings, BSO would have been able to provide more firefighters, an additional fire station, and a higher level of public safety to the city for less than it currently costs the city to provide fewer services. Any claim that a merger with BSO would have caused higher costs to taxpayers is simply not true. The $82.00 costs were associated with the other referendum items on the ballot (specifically items 1 and 2), but neither of those issues had any involvement with the ballot question dealing with BSO. Nor did those first two questions involve any kind of a merger with BSO.