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In It to Win It

(8,285 posts)
Sat Sep 17, 2022, 01:53 PM Sep 2022

DeSantis owns this huge mistake: He must suspend Sheriff Tony (Editorial)

Sun Sentinel

https://archive.ph/QPhbI

What is Gov. Ron DeSantis waiting for?

He removed Tampa’s twice-elected state attorney from office for making statements on abortion that he didn’t like. But he leaves Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony in charge of one of the largest law enforcement agencies in Florida, despite his history of lying about his past on official documents.

Tony should never have been appointed sheriff in the first place. But he was — in sloppy, hurried fashion by DeSantis himself, without a full background check that should have raised enough red flags to derail his appointment. This irresponsible lack of vetting has brought needless embarrassment to Broward County and to the dedicated professionals who proudly wear the BSO uniform, many of whom risk their lives to protect the public.

The sheriff should have resigned long ago, as we urged in 2020, but he refused. The voters of Broward, who reflexively vote for Democrats and who had no credible alternatives on the ballot, elected him to a four-year term two years ago. We refused to endorse Tony or either of his opponents in that election, warning voters that Tony’s problems would only get worse — and they have.

The Florida Commission on Ethics has found probable cause that Tony misused his official position by lying on a police job application, driver’s license renewal and state law enforcement certification form.
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DeSantis owns this huge mistake: He must suspend Sheriff Tony (Editorial) (Original Post) In It to Win It Sep 2022 OP
Kick dalton99a Sep 2022 #1
One very real problem with that theory: JoeTheRat Sep 2022 #2
But, but .... the REICH WING LIKES RED FLAGS..... It means you "get us". TigressDem Sep 2022 #3
I still want to know how a governor can unilaterally remove a "twice elected state attorney". BComplex Sep 2022 #4
In Florida, it is legal for the governor to "suspend" local elected officials In It to Win It Sep 2022 #6
❤️ ✿❧🌿❧✿ ❤️ Lucinda Sep 2022 #5
So this guy is a democrat? oldsoftie Sep 2022 #7
Honor, integrity and ethics Zilli Sep 2022 #8

dalton99a

(81,592 posts)
1. Kick
Sat Sep 17, 2022, 01:56 PM
Sep 2022
In 1993 when he was 14 years old living in Philadelphia, Tony shot and killed his neighbor. He was initially charged as an adult with murder and held without bail pending a preliminary hearing.[9][10] Bail was eventually set at $15,000 at the hearing.[11] The case was transferred to juvenile court, where he was found not guilty after he maintained that the shooting was in self-defense. He did not disclose the shooting when he applied for law enforcement jobs.

In his application for the Coral Springs Police Department, he answered no to "Have you ever been arrested, charged, received a notice or summons to appear for any criminal violation?", but Tony states he was not "technically" charged with a crime.[12] DeSantis did not know about the shooting prior to appointing Tony and it did not come up in a background check during vetting.[13][12] When asked about the shooting, Tony denied he was arrested, saying that he simply went to the police station to provide a statement and was allowed to leave with his father.[14][12]

On January 7, 2020, Gregory Tony filled out a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Affidavit of Applicant form. On this official document, Tony checked off no to the question of ever having a criminal record sealed or expunged. Tony asserts that since he does not have a criminal record, he filled out the form correctly. However, on May 8, 2020, FDLE announced the matter had been upgraded from an inquiry to an investigation.[15]

On May 19, 2020, it was discovered that in 2003, Tony applied to the Tallahassee Police Department. Ultimately, Tony was rejected for employment after admitting to using LSD. Tony then applied to the Coral Springs Police Department, at which time Tony omitted his drug use from his application.[16]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Tony

TigressDem

(5,125 posts)
3. But, but .... the REICH WING LIKES RED FLAGS..... It means you "get us".
Sat Sep 17, 2022, 01:57 PM
Sep 2022

What sane and rational people see as RED FLAGS, rethugs take as exceptional criteria of qualification to oppress and rule.

BComplex

(8,066 posts)
4. I still want to know how a governor can unilaterally remove a "twice elected state attorney".
Sat Sep 17, 2022, 03:14 PM
Sep 2022

That cannot POSSIBLY be legal!

In It to Win It

(8,285 posts)
6. In Florida, it is legal for the governor to "suspend" local elected officials
Sat Sep 17, 2022, 04:04 PM
Sep 2022

under certain conditions.

It's questionable whether DeSantis' suspension of the state attorney met those conditions.

oldsoftie

(12,609 posts)
7. So this guy is a democrat?
Sat Sep 17, 2022, 04:38 PM
Sep 2022

and not defending him, but isn't it legal to answer "no" when its a juvenile record? I've heard that before but I don't know.

Zilli

(190 posts)
8. Honor, integrity and ethics
Sat Sep 17, 2022, 04:49 PM
Sep 2022

do not exist in DeathSantistan. This is how he will tyrannically govern when he is declared god king by the sadistic court, succeeding 45. Hopefully this horrific nightmare fantasy will never come to pass if We The People can somehow wrestle back a court that at one time may have been perceived to be Supreme but has fallen into illegitimacy.

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