Sheriff Tony
From the Editor:
First and foremost, Coral Springs Talk’s mission is to bring the community together, and for that reason, we have refrained from endorsing one political candidate over another.
But now, it’s our deep tie to the community — and having witnessed the devastation that followed the school shooting on Feb. 14, 2018 — that we feel compelled to deliver a sharp retort to the Sun Sentinel editorial that appeared in Sunday’s paper, and offer a full-throated endorsement of Sheriff Gregory Tony in the Democratic primary on Aug. 18.
Why the Sun Sentinel would call for the removal and replacement of Sheriff Scott Israel and then back him as he seeks his “sheriff” title once again is a real head-scratcher.
It’s impossible to believe that the paper has forgotten its eloquent airing of Israel’s failings that added up to 17 dead and 17 wounded at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that Valentine’s Day that broke all our hearts.
Now that the Sun Sentinel’s Pulitzer Prize — the Public Service Medal — for covering the Parkland shooting is safely tucked in its display case, the position that Israel must go apparently no longer serves the paper’s purposes.
Alas, to us, it appears that in this endorsement — and among Broward County’s Democratic Party “in crowd” — politics has moved ahead of public safety.
We stand firmly with local leaders who are endorsing Tony, who praise the current sheriff’s outreach and communication style.
True, Tony should have indicated on his Coral Springs police application that he shot another young man to death when he was a juvenile, living in Philadelphia. He also should have addressed other youthful mistakes involving a bad check and his alleged use of LSD.
But that, along with Tony’s possible conflict of interest in his business dealings, seem small matters when you consider Israel’s failings have added up to actual dead bodies.
The Sun Sentinel’s own reporting found Israel failed to lead after his department’s radio system failed during a 2017 airport shooting. It’s a credit to the department that the shooter there was apprehended immediately, but the sheriff’s radio system left thousands stranded on the airport tarmac for hours.
Nothing had been done by the time Nikolas Cruz went on his deadly rampage, and deputies were forced to use hand signals because their radios failed.
And you’d think that a county that had been through one mass shooting would have its deputies prepared for another, but the response to Parkland’s pain would not indicate that Scott Israel did that.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission found that eight deputies failed to rush into the building and confront the shooter. The report also details precious minutes lost as students and staff lay bleeding inside Building 12.
Tony has shaken up the union representing the department’s rank and file. We think they needed shaking up. We urge voters to make their voices heard at the ballot box Aug. 18. Vote for Sheriff Gregory Tony, a man who takes leadership seriously and doesn’t just brag about his “amazing leadership” on CNN.
Hunter Pollack, who lost his sister, Meadow, that terrible day, said he was “disgusted” when he read the Sun-Sentinel’s endorsement. Campaigning for Tony, he said, is about trying to keep Broward County’s two million residents safe.
“That endorsement was spit on every victim’s grave and their families’ pain,” Pollack said. “If Scott Israel hadn’t been sheriff that day, my sister might still be alive.”
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7 comments
Nothing says confidence and non partisan reporting like “guest contributor” even if he used “we” “us” “and the almighty BUT” as in But that, along with Tony’s possible conflict of interest in his business dealings, seem small matters when you consider Israel’s failings have added up to actual dead bodies.“
HELLO I GUESS ONE DEAD BODY BY TONY IS JUST NOT THE SAME AS “YOUR DEAD BODY”!?!?!?
Scott Israel was removed from office by Gov Desantis for good reason and the decision was upheld by the Florida Senate.
So the choice the democrats are giving us is either to choose Gregory Tony a Liar, that perjured himself on an application for Police Officer in Coral Springs, not stating that he killed someone, took LSD and wrote bad checks…… versus…Scott Israel, that on his watch was responsible for the bad culture in the Broward County Sheriff department, failed to protect the kids at MSD high school, and was removed from office by a Republican Governor?
They are both terrible choices in these times – a Liar or an Incompetent ? I think no endorsement of either should be at hand since they are both lack what is needed to be a Sheriff in these times.
What am I missing here ? This is the best the Democrats can do ? When they support these type of candidates they are assuming that we have no other choice and they are playing us for suckers.
I am going to vote for the Republican, H. Wayne Clark . He looks good. US Army Veteran , ( the other two are not). Consider this a protest vote – and I recommend everyone else do the same.
so your saying Greg Tony is bad but not as bad as Scott Israel
To the editor,
Greg Tony or Toney as he once spelled it to disguise his identity is a fraud. He is a proven liar and murdered someone and this is ok with you ? You and Your website lose credibility when backing an immoral unethical person such as Greg. Think of this, he murdered someone w a gun, shot the guy 4 times in the head and never told anyone about it , lying on his application. Chief Foster said he should have never been hired as a police officer, yet bc he worked out with Pollack at CrossFit and established that relationship, the governor gave him a “shot” at this position. The governor has egg on his face right now and trust me is upset by not vetting Greg properly.
Israel did not take responsibility and yes he is cocky, but you don’t know Greg. Greg is worse. He is fooling you all. Even the Coral Springs FOP won’t endorse him bc they know he’s immoral and unethical unlike you Ms. Editor. The best pick is Mr. Pollack, seasoned professional at BSO. Most of BSO endorse Pollack and know Greg is a fraud. Greg and his wife live with a Coral Springs cop in Coral Springs w this cops family… Does he pay rent ? If he does , it is against code in this city. Don’t tell me he lives there for free , our sheriff. Vet him mam. And think of this, Parkland was a horrible terrible incident , a sick twisted guy w a gun, and the parents who now “run the county “, how about little twisted Greg Toney in Philly killing that kid who also has a Family. He’s preaching safety … Sun Sentinel had it partially right , you lost your marbles. Please I welcome a response .
Killing another human being at 14, using LSD, passing bad checks, lying on police applications, and conflicts of interest is NOT minor. How about we not compare apples and oranges.
The students were killed because the FBI ignored the warnings. The students were killed because the school district kept giving him chances over and over. The students were killed because the gate was left unlocked. The students were killed because the cameras in the schools were 20 minutes behind. The students were killed because the award winning, beloved resource officer was a coward. No one could have known or anticipated that. The students were killed because the Coral Springs radio system was ineffective and not being on the same system as the rest of the county caused significant delays and confusion.
Gregory Tony does not have the honesty, integrity and skills to be the Sheriff. Clearly it was extremely hard for the editors to endorse Scott Israel. They made that hard choice because they had to. I am not saying that Scott Israel does not have some culpability and I’m also not saying to vote for him. There are other choices. Do your research. Read as much as you can on the other candidates. Watch the candidate forums on Youtube. Do your due diligence before making your decision.
As a resident of Coral Springs with deep connections to Parkland. I completely understand the emotional response of the community when the Sun Sentinel endorsed Scott Israel, but that doesn’t mean that Greg Tony is the better choice. Al Pollock is a better choice than either of them.
Pollock didn’t kill someone with his daddy’s gun at age 14. Pollock didn’t use LSD. Pollock didn’t commit check fraud. Pollock didn’t lie on law enforcement applications to get a job. Pollock isn’t being investigated by FDLE.
Since when is it okay for the head of law enforcement to break the law. Pollock was let go by Israel because he couldn’t support Israel’s poor decisions and spoke up. Toney is an uncontrollable, tempermental, undeniabe liar who should not be Sheriff. Period!
If you’re looking for the better choice, Pollock is the right choice.