PEMBROKE PARK, FLA. (WSVN) - Emotions ran high during a commission meeting in Pembroke Park, and it wasn’t the first time commissioners have gotten into a heated debate.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Pembroke Park Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs was involved in a heated debate with Mayor Ashira Mohammed.
“This is enough!” said Mohammed as she banged her gavel. “You have attacked every last commissioner on this dais.”
“And I’m tired of the false and malicious [expletive] allegations by behalf of this [expletive] commission,” said Jacobs.
A few months ago, Jacobs accused a town employee of misusing a town vehicle. In June, after an investigation, the employee was cleared.
“We have determined that there was no wrongdoing by Ms. Cardona,” a commissioner said.
Then a fellow commissioner reminded Jacobs that he’d been accused of something similar.
“Didn’t you drive around in a police car pretending to be a police officer?” said Pembroke Park Vice Mayor Erik Morrissette.
“Not at all,” Jacobs said.
“No? I have a receipt that shows that you bought T-shirts, tactical gear, and somebody has whispers in my ear that you had a badge made, too,” Morrissette said. “That’s pretending to be an officer when you’re not.”
Jacobs became infuriated, and that’s when the gloves came off.
“Please [expletive] put it on the dais,” he said. “If that happened, have the [expletive] to stand up and prove it.”
“Can we have some order?” Mohammed said.
“No, prove it!” yelled Jacobs. “Prove that [expletive] happened, because it didn’t.”
It’s been a rocky road for Jacobs and the commission.
Earlier this year, the Town of Pembroke Park hired an attorney to investigate allegations that Jacobs was mistreating town employees.
The report concluded, “In sum, every person interviewed, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or age, expressed concern about Commissioner Jacobs and espoused that his behavior has created a hostile, volatile, toxic workplace.”
Jacobs complained about the report’s findings, which he declined to participate in, and said the findings were lopsided.
“If everything they said was true, it’s not illegal to be an [expletive],” Jacobs told 7News on Aug. 7.
When asked if such behavior is helpful, Jacobs replied, “It’s not, though, but what they’re saying is not true.”
“You have a habitual policy, tendency or whatever to create a hostile work environment,” Mohammed said during a meeting in August.
Shortly after his outburst, Wednesday’s meeting was adjourned. Jacobs was seen gathering his belongings, zipping up his vest and leaving. His colleagues remained in place to finish the business at hand.
7News reached out to Jacobs to hear his side after Wednesday’s meeting. He sent a text saying that other commissioners and some staff members are engaging in unethical behavior and corruption, and it’s damaging the city. He also said that this is part of a concerted effort to remove him from his position, and he is the subject of continuing personal attacks.
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