Exclusive: Village to See Stronger Police Presence when Deerfield Dumps BSO

EXCLUSIVE

According to Deerfield Beach City officials, Century Village East residents can expect better patrols and stronger police services now that the city is parting ways with the Broward Sheriff’s Office. The CVE Reporter has learned exclusively that City leaders are preparing a major transition in public safety, with Century Village East a priority of their new community policing strategy.

The City of Deerfield Beach’s relationship with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, which has provided both police and fire rescue services, is coming to an end after 35 years. The termination comes after the city refused to pay an increase in costs the Sheriff was demanding. The city says the amount of the increase was not only unreasonable but also violated the terms of their contract.

For decades, the Broward Sheriff’s Office has provided law enforcement services for a handful of cities in the county.  These cities disbanded their own city police departments and instead pay BSO to essentially be their local police department.  Often the cities make the switch as a cost-saving move, as the BSO sales pitch to cities includes claims that it can provide better services for less money than it costs to run an individual police department.  But Deerfield Beach officials say the amount of money demanded by the Sheriff to continue serving the city was outrageously high, and made it clear the city was better off with its own police department.

As one official put it, “The Deerfield Beach City Commission simply does not have any more trust or confidence in the Broward Sheriff’s ability to serve the city.”

The city is already moving on, with plans well underway to create its own police and fire departments. City officials have already begun planning and implementing a two-year transition to create a new system of services once BSO’s commitment ends. Under the terms of the expiring agreement, BSO is still required to continue providing the full level of police and fire services during those two years.

City officials say they may not need that much time to get their own police department up and running.

The CVE Reporter has confirmed that City officials are moving forward with plans that will put more officers inside Century Village East and throughout the city, with an emphasis on visible patrols and stronger community connections.

Exclusively obtained details show that Deerfield Beach is reviewing several options, including a cooperative arrangement with Pompano Beach. Pompano Beach recently extended—but pointedly did not renew—its own law enforcement contract with BSO, a step that may signal its intention to also drop the sheriff’s office. A partnership between the two cities could lead to shared police or fire rescue operations.

The CVE Reporter has also learned that the transition will be easier than many might expect. The City of Deerfield Beach owns its fire stations and fire trucks, which BSO currently operates. That means all the fire trucks stay with the city. Interest is already being expressed by candidates eager to serve in the Deerfield Beach fire and police departments. City leaders say this givesthem more control over staffing, vetting, and leadership decisions.

According to Deerfield Beach City Hall, the city’s break from BSO is being framed as a turning point—one that will replace county-run oversight with a model built around local accountability and community trust. As a result, Century Village East will be one of the first and greatest beneficiaries of that decision.