FOP-PBA Joint Response to Sun Sentinel Editorial

[Lauderhill-PBA]

The membership of the Lauderhill Police Department unions, who are represented by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #161 and the Lauderhill Police Lieutenants Chapter of the Police Benevolent Association, would like the opportunity to respond to the July 7, 2014 editorial in the Sun Sentinel regarding the Lauderhill Police Department.

The union memberships feel the comparison made between the two agencies in the editorial is equivalent to comparing “apples to oranges” specifically when speaking of investigating and dealing with allegations of police misconduct.

In the court of public opinion, readers of the editorial could form opinions that are based on only partial information concluding all members of the Lauderhill Police Department are to be painted with the same broad brush as those accused of misconduct in the editorial.

In fact this is not an accurate portrayal of the police officers of the Lauderhill Police Department. It is simply an editorial comprised of only partial information taken from an ongoing lawsuit, where all the facts are not provided.

Although the Lauderhill Police Department and the City Administration don't typically make public statements about ongoing investigations, this doesn't mean they haven't acted quickly to initiate proper investigations and take immediate action when necessary.

This process was clearly demonstrated in the case of the former officers mentioned in the Sun Sentinel editorial. As soon as allegations of misconduct were made, the former officers were placed on administrative leave, the Police Chief and City Administration swiftly initiated an official investigation which ultimately led to those employees' termination from the Police Department soon after charges were filed by the State Attorney's Office.

Contrary to what the editorial may lead readers to believe, the unions support the Chief of Police and City Officials as they have a responsibility to ensure that all officers working within the Lauderhill community are of the highest quality. The Lauderhill Police Department has lengthy procedures in place to ensure this benchmark is met as outlined within the strict accreditation standards the Police Department must adhere to. The Lauderhill Police Department continues to meet this accreditation standard as was demonstrated in June of this year by their being reaccredited for the fourth consecutive time.

When Chief Smalling came to the Lauderhill Police Department three years ago, he brought a vision with him, one which was dedicated to raising the bar for those within our police department. The police officers of the Lauderhill Police Department remain very proud to wear the uniform and display the Lauderhill Police Department patch on their sleeves.

The union membership extends an open invitation to all in the community to participate in one of our many community centered activities or come by and do a ride along with one of our fine officers and experience firsthand the true culture of the police department and its membership.

The membership of the Lauderhill Police Department unions, who are represented by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #161 and the Lauderhill Police Lieutenants Chapter of the Police Benevolent Association, would like the opportunity to respond to the July 7, 2014 editorial in the Sun Sentinel regarding the Lauderhill Police Department.

The union memberships feel the comparison made between the two agencies in the editorial is equivalent to comparing “apples to oranges” specifically when speaking of investigating and dealing with allegations of police misconduct.

In the court of public opinion, readers of the editorial could form opinions that are based on only partial information concluding all members of the Lauderhill Police Department are to be painted with the same broad brush as those accused of misconduct in the editorial.

In fact this is not an accurate portrayal of the police officers of the Lauderhill Police Department. It is simply an editorial comprised of only partial information taken from an ongoing lawsuit, where all the facts are not provided.

Although the Lauderhill Police Department and the City Administration don't typically make public statements about ongoing investigations, this doesn't mean they haven't acted quickly to initiate proper investigations and take immediate action when necessary.

This process was clearly demonstrated in the case of the former officers mentioned in the Sun Sentinel editorial. As soon as allegations of misconduct were made, the former officers were placed on administrative leave, the Police Chief and City Administration swiftly initiated an official investigation which ultimately led to those employees' termination from the Police Department soon after charges were filed by the State Attorney's Office.

Contrary to what the editorial may lead readers to believe, the unions support the Chief of Police and City Officials as they have a responsibility to ensure that all officers working within the Lauderhill community are of the highest quality. The Lauderhill Police Department has lengthy procedures in place to ensure this benchmark is met as outlined within the strict accreditation standards the Police Department must adhere to. The Lauderhill Police Department continues to meet this accreditation standard as was demonstrated in June of this year by their being reaccredited for the fourth consecutive time.

When Chief Smalling came to the Lauderhill Police Department three years ago, he brought a vision with him, one which was dedicated to raising the bar for those within our police department. The police officers of the Lauderhill Police Department remain very proud to wear the uniform and display the Lauderhill Police Department patch on their sleeves.

The union membership extends an open invitation to all in the community to participate in one of our many community centered activities or come by and do a ride along with one of our fine officers and experience firsthand the true culture of the police department and its membership.

Spoken from the prospective of administration.