Press Releases

Press Release:

WILTON MANORS, FL – MARCH 11, 2022 – The Dolphin Democrats, Florida’s oldest
LGBTQ+ political organization, unanimously passed a resolution at their Wednesday
membership meeting calling for Fort Lauderdale Police Department Chief Larry Scirotto
to be immediately reinstated, following his dismissal on March 3 by City Manager Chris
Lagerbloom.

“The City of Fort Lauderdale has a history of racism in the police department and it
needs to continue to address those issues to create a more inclusive department. The
firing of Police Chief Scirotto not only impacts the department but also the residents of
our city,” said Alfredo Olvera, President of The Dolphin Democrats.

Hired in mid-August of 2021, following a nationwide search, Chief Scirotto came to the
city with a stellar record culminating in serving as assistant chief of Pittsburgh with an
extensive background in patrol, investigative, and administrative assignments. As the
city’s first LGBTQ+ police chief, and only its second non-white chief, he joined the
Department at an important moment in law enforcement in the city as work was needed
to build community trust, bring accountability, and ensure fair treatment for everyone in
interactions with officers.

Prior to Chief Scirotto’s hiring as Chief of Police, the City of Fort Lauderdale struggled
with the issue of race and law enforcement for years, including the firing of three
officers for sending racist text messages and videos and most recently with the decision
to fire tear gas and rubber bullets during a Black Lives Matter protest over the George
Floyd killing in Minneapolis, the grievous injury of a peaceful participant in that protest,
an officer shoving another peaceful protester to the ground, and the prior police chief’s
public statements defending his officers’ actions that day.

The investigatory report that the city manager relied upon for his decision to remove
Chief Scirotto is of questionable value in that he retained attorney Gregg Rossman on
the advice of the city attorney even though Mr. Rossman is not an employment law
expert and has a history of right-wing statements.

The membership of the Dolphin Democrats resolves that:
1. The Rossman Report be set aside as of questionable value.
2. Chief Scirotto be reinstated to office and the city manager consider imposing
less severe punishments for any missteps that he made, such as a 30- to 60-day
suspension without pay and a requirement to be retrained in equal employment
opportunity law.
3. The city look to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for its
findings on the promotional decisions and take any necessary action to align the
promotions with the findings of the commission.
4. The city manager and City Commission recommit themselves to addressing the
need to improve diversity in the Police Department and the issues of use-of-force
and racial bias.

About The Dolphin Democrats: Founded in 1982, the Dolphin Democrats is the
oldest LGBTQ+ Political Organization in Florida. Our goal is to educate voters,
advocate for LGBTQ+ people, support our community, and elect pro-LGBTQ+
Democratic candidates.

Dolphin Democrats Media Contacts:
Alfredo Olvera, President of the Dolphin Democrats
[email protected]
Communications Committee: Emma Collum & Nic Zantop
[email protected]

Dolphin Dems_Scirotto Resolution
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