Broward School Board rejects proposal for new district police force
South Florida Sun Sentinel |By SCOTT TRAVIS | January 9, 2024
The Broward County school district is unlikely to form a full-scale police department any time soon.
The School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to reject a proposal from Superintendent Peter Licata, saying it was rushed and lacked public support. Board members also said the district needs to focus on a plan to close or repurpose underenrolled schools.
Members of the public were near unanimous in their opposition of the plan, arguing that it was done without public input, is unlikely to save money and could make schools less safe.
As a result, school resource officers from the Broward Sheriff’s Office and city police departments will continue to serve schools for the foreseeable future.
“I feel we have fumbled the ball again,” she said.
Board member Jeff Holness suggested the board bring the idea back in April, following more research and public input. But that idea was rejected.
“We have too many things on our plate we need to be discussing in the up and coming months,” said Board Chairwoman Lori Alhadeff, who had previously supported the plan. “This not the right timing.”
The School Board decided to explore the idea of a police department last summer amid complaints from local municipalities that the school district was failing to adequately pay the costs of providing school resource officers.
The School Board agreed to raise the payment to $61,200 per officer in 2021 to $103,000 in 2023. So far, the district and the cities have not reached a reimbursement agreement for the current school year, although the school resource officers are still serving in the meantime.
Last summer, the city of Hollywood asked the School Board to increase reimbursement to $166,959 per officer as well as pay for two supervisors at a cost of $208,261 each. That request prompted board members, including Alhadeff, to ask Licata to pursue a district police force.
The district’s proposal for an internal police force was unclear about whether it would save money. The cost for each officer would be cheaper, but there would be supervisors and additional operating and capital costs.
Many mayors and city commissioners opposed the plan, saying the current school resource officers are serving the district well, and the district would be unlikely to fill the needed positions due to a police officer shortage.
