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

[In It to Win It]

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.