Deerfield Beach invites residents to help shape new police and fire departments

As the City of Deerfield Beach moves forward with plans to establish its own Police and Fire Departments, officials are calling on residents, business owners, and community stakeholders to play a direct role in shaping how those services will operate.

A series of Community Engagement Meetings, beginning with the first design charrette on Thursday, April 16, is being launched to ensure the process is both transparent and inclusive. The session will take place from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Johnny L. Tigner Community Center, located at 445 SW 2nd Street.

Several meetings will be held across the city throughout the month of April, including a meeting scheduled for Monday, April 27 at 1:00 p.m. at the Clubhouse.

City leaders are emphasizing that these meetings are not traditional presentations, but interactive working sessions where participants will be asked to share their expectations, concerns, and experiences. The goal is to gather meaningful input that will help define how public safety services are designed, delivered, and evaluated from the ground up.

Residents will be encouraged to discuss what safety means in their neighborhoods, how they want police and fire services to respond, and what standards of accountability and trust they expect moving forward. That feedback will play a key role in shaping service priorities and guiding the development of community-centered policing and emergency response models.

Officials say the April 16 meeting is just the beginning of an ongoing engagement effort. Additional sessions will be held at different locations throughout the city, including daytime, evening, and weekend options, to ensure broad participation. Each meeting will follow the same format and cover the same material, allowing residents to attend whichever session best fits their schedule.

The city’s initiative represents a significant step in building local control over public safety services, with a focus on collaboration and responsiveness. By involving the community early in the process, Deerfield Beach aims to create departments that reflect the needs and values of the people they serve.

Residents are encouraged to attend and take part in what city officials describe as a unique opportunity to help define the future of public safety in Deerfield Beach.