Pompano Beach moves toward renewing Broward Sheriff’s policing contract

Pompano Beach commissioners took a first step Tuesday toward renewing the city’s policing contract with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, choosing continuity over the far costlier path of building a new city-run department. The decision keeps alive an arrangement that has covered police service since 1999, while the city continues to run its own fire rescue operations.

Pompano Beach is the largest city in Broward County without its own municipal police force, with more than 112,000 residents. A consultant estimated that launching an in-house department would cost more than $100 million and take nearly three years to stand up, with added expenses for facilities, vehicles, equipment and recruitment. Another estimate put the annual price of an independent department at about $108 million.

By contrast, the proposed three-year contract with BSO has a first-year price tag of $70,087,761, an 8% increase for residents in the 2026 fiscal year. Commissioners made clear the vote was only a first reading and not the final word, with a final vote expected later in July.

Commissioner Darlene Smith said the city needed to focus on protecting the community and avoiding the delays tied to building a police force from scratch. Vice Mayor Alison Fournier said Pompano Beach still needs a longer-term strategy and should not rush into a major structural change without more work. The proposed agreement also includes a 90-day exit clause for either side, giving the city flexibility if its priorities change.

Sheriff Gregory Tony attended the meeting and told commissioners that if Pompano Beach ever decides to form its own department, BSO will help with the transition and provide the necessary services.

Nearby Deerfield Beach has used BSO for police since 1990 and fire rescue since 2011, but its city commission voted 4-1 in January 2026 to end that relationship and rebuild both departments. Its current contract keeps BSO service in place until September 2027, while city leaders work toward restoring their own operations.