The following are excerpts from a New Times article dated December 21, 2006.
CORRECTION: BSO Fire Rescue did not "take over" fire service in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, nor could it. In all the cities and towns where BSO provides public safety services, it has been the elected leaders of the municipality, not Sheriff Ken Jenne, that made the decision to contract with BSO for service. Likewise, it was the elected Town Council in LBTS that decided two years ago to contract with BSO for fire service. Since then, BSO Fire Rescue has always been the Town's primary provider of fire and emergency services. That has not changed.
CORRECTION: With the exception of one older fire truck that was too old to be in service, the volunteers did not own the fire trucks used in LBTS. The fire trucks used by the volunteers have always belonged to the Town. In fact, the trucks used by BSO also belong to the Town. The contract between BSO and the Town allows BSO to use these trucks for the duration of the agreement. As for the older truck, it belongs to the volunteers and remains in their possession.
"...Those are the first things that the mayor [of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea] brings up when asked about the issue that is ripping his quaint and unique beach burg apart: The hostile takeover of the town's fire services by the Broward Sheriff's Office."
CORRECTION: BSO Fire Rescue did not "take over" fire service in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, nor could it. In all the cities and towns where BSO provides public safety services, it has been the elected leaders of the municipality, not Sheriff Ken Jenne, that made the decision to contract with BSO for service. Likewise, it was the elected Town Council in LBTS that decided two years ago to contract with BSO for fire service. Since then, BSO Fire Rescue has always been the Town's primary provider of fire and emergency services. That has not changed.
"...The sheriff's office then locked the volunteers out of the town firehouse and commandeered their fire trucks and equipment."
CORRECTION: With the exception of one older fire truck that was too old to be in service, the volunteers did not own the fire trucks used in LBTS. The fire trucks used by the volunteers have always belonged to the Town. In fact, the trucks used by BSO also belong to the Town. The contract between BSO and the Town allows BSO to use these trucks for the duration of the agreement. As for the older truck, it belongs to the volunteers and remains in their possession.
