NEAR FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) — The Broward Sheriff’s Office union president has been terminated following an internal affairs investigation.
The department made the announcement of BSO Deputy Jeff Bell’s termination, Thursday morning.
Back on April 6, an investigation began involving Bell for allegations of violating BSO policies.
Four days later, he was suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.
He had written a letter criticizing Tony saying the deputies do not have enough PPE to do their job during the height of the pandemic.
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony released the following statement:
“My decision to terminate Deputy Jeff Bell comes after a lengthy and thorough investigation by the Broward Sheriff’s Office Division of Internal Affairs. The evidence shows Bell used corrupt practices to try to prevent me from being elected sheriff by providing misinformation and lies to the media to create fear and distrust among BSO employees and within the community during a global pandemic.”
The sheriff further explained the cause for Bell’s termination.
“For an officer, a law enforcement officer who has taken an oath to protect the community, to go out and purposely introduce fear and chaos for their own personal gain, it’s appalling,” said Tony.
BSO’s Professional Standards Committee voted unanimously to fire him. His termination is effective immediately.
“Ultimately, turn into the entire body agreeing that the appropriate decision was to terminate,” said Tony.
Bell spoke with 7News following his termination.
“There’s like multiple lanes to start fighting now, the possibility of going right back to federal court again where we were back in May of 2020 where the judge said, ‘I agree with you. I just cannot rule in your favor at this time because there’s no adverse action against you. You’re still getting paid, you’re still getting benefits, you’re still getting your retirement,'” he said. “Now that that’s changed, now that opens up to refile back in the federal court.”
Bell said he saw it coming.
“I’m not surprised at all,” he said. “It’s another knee-jerk reaction by the sheriff.”
He says it was personal, that the sheriff had it out for him.
“He didn’t like that I was speaking out and pointing out the truth about the lack of the PPE equipment that we had in the agency,” said Bell.
Tony said he’s fired dozens of deputies and as far as he’s concerned, it’s not personal.
“No employee is immune to the rules and regulations of this organization, regardless of what ancillary titles they may have, union president or other,” he said.
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