Broward County moves to take control of Fire Rescue from Sheriff's Office after 2028

Broward commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to begin moving control of the county's fire-rescue department away from the Broward Sheriff's Office, ending a relationship that has lasted more than two decades.

The county plans to let its current agreement with BSO expire in September 2028 rather than renew the contract. 

Commissioner Lamar Fisher said the move would give the county greater control over the department and potentially help control costs. He said fire-rescue services would remain the same during the transition.

Once the transition is completed, roughly 900 Broward County Fire Rescue employees will become county employees instead of working under BSO. The county would oversee their labor agreements and benefits, and the department would no longer report to the Broward sheriff. 

Fisher said he does not believe the county will need the full two years to transition the department's 907 employees back under Broward County.

Broward County would also assume responsibility for providing fire-rescue services under existing agreements with municipalities including Cooper City, Weston and Dania Beach. The change also affects fire-rescue operations at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades, as well as the department's air-rescue operations.

The commission said it would notify BSO and begin the transition process immediately.

In a statement following the vote, Sheriff Gregory Tony called the commission's decision "deeply disappointing." Read his full statement below:

"For more than two decades, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue has responded to call after call, providing lifesaving emergency services to residents and visitors across Broward County. Today's decision by the Broward County Commission not to renew its contract with Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue is deeply disappointing, a betrayal of the public's trust and a disservice to the men and women who have dedicated their careers to protecting this community. It is particularly troubling that the same Commission that has refused to provide our first responders with the compensation they deserve is now prioritizing control over a proven public safety system that has served this community since 2003. Under BSO's leadership, this partnership has saved countless lives and advanced fire rescue services through critical innovations, including whole blood transfusions, the SWAT Medic program and life-safety education. Public safety is not about control. What matters is the skilled, timely and coordinated response of highly trained public safety professionals, like the men and women of Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue."