This afternoon former BSO Captain Jim Fondo filed paperwork to run against Sheriff Scott Israel. Fondo was with BSO until he and 27 other command staff members were dismissed in 2012 by the newly elected sheriff – Scott Israel.
According to Chief Fondo:
“The status quo isn’t good enough for Broward. We can do better!”
“Everywhere we turn, we hear of corruption. The School Board, Broward Health, some of our cities – we read about corruption investigations by the Inspector General, a grand jury, the FBI, the FDLE – why do we never hear about the BSO. The BSO is Broward’s police department. Good questions are “Is BSO too political? Is the Sheriff too close to the very people he should be investigating? Where is the BSO public corruptions unit? “
As a past Officer of the Year and Deputy of the Year, and winner of the Meritorious Service Award and Exceptional Service Award presented by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chief Fondo is proud of his over 80 letters of commendation and BSO department citations. While supervising BSO’s Homeland Security Unit and Counter Terrorism Unit as part of the FBI’s JTTF (Joint Terrorism Task Force), Chief Fondo helped keep Broward safe. With over three decades of law enforcement experience, which began in 1982 in Dania Beach and culminated as the Director of more than 150 BSO officers and support professionals in the highly decorated Strategic Investigations Division, Chief Fondo is a strong supporter of the exceptional men and women who currently serve the BSO. Chief Fondo believes that with his leadership, BSO can better serve Broward County.
“While there have been notable improvements at BSO, particularly with the civil citation program developed under the former Sheriff and implemented under Sheriff Israel, I believe we can and should do better with our youth and expand the program –particularly in our African American, Caribbean, and Hispanic communities. I support BSO’s focus on community outreach, but perhaps less politics and more community would produce even better results.”
Chief Fondo has a Master’s of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Virginia.
“After a few bumps, Sheriff Israel generally has done a good job and reported statistics suggest crime is down – but as Mark Twain said ‘there are lies, damn lies and statistics’ The status quo isn’t good enough for Broward. We can do better!”
According to Chief Fondo, he “looks forward to a vigorous debate in the coming days and weeks where all the candidates for Sheriff can discuss how BSO can become a better and more effective independent organization for all of us in Broward.”
