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Miami Herald
13-07-2025
- Miami Herald
Ten Broward deputies face termination over handling of Tamarac triple murder
Ten Broward Sheriff's deputies and sergeants who were entangled in the shocking and chaotic triple murder in Tamarac earlier this year have been recommended for termination, the union representing the sheriff's office announced. Since the Feb. 16 slayings, at least 15 BSO deputies have been disciplined over their handling of the murders of Mary Gingles, 34, her father, David Ponzer, 64, and neighbor Andrew Ferrin, 36 — stemming not only from post-investigation but also the more than a dozen calls to deputies before the killings. It is unclear whether the 10 deputies recommended for termination are among those who have been formally disciplined. Regardless, the union representing them said the decision to seek their firing violates due process and is an excessive punishment. 'Employees who have dedicated their lives to protecting this community throughout their police careers have been sacrificed as political cover for the failures of the systems and processes of the agency at large,' said International Union of Police Associations Local 6020 in a statement. Pleas for help preceded murders Nathan Alan Gingles, Mary's estranged husband, was arrested in connection with the three killings and the subsequent kidnapping of his daughter on Feb. 16. In the weeks following the slayings, the Miami Herald learned that Mary Gingles had reported Nathan's erratic behavior numerous times, but to no avail. From February 2024 to January 2025, Mary called the sheriff's office 14 times to report her estranged husband, a BSO call log showed. Court records revealed that Mary feared that she was destined to be killed by Nathan. In light of this, the Broward Sheriff's Office condemned its deputies in news conferences and it restructured its Tamarac district's leadership. Former Tamarac Captain Jemeriah Cooper was fired in May. Sgt. Brittney King, Sgt. Devoune Williams and Deputy Ilany Ceballos, who all worked in the Tamarac area, were placed on administrative investigative leave with pay shortly after the murders. Also placed on leave were Civil Division Deputy Joseph Sasso and Dania Beach Deputy Daniel Munoz. The agency continued to discipline deputies who worked in the Tamarac district, suspending Dia Cross, Daimeon Nelson, Eric Baide, Eric Klisiak, Daniel Lovallo and Lemar Blackwood. The sheriff's office has not made a public statement, and it is unclear if any of the previously suspended deputies were put up for termination. 'Excessive punishments' IUPA Local 6020, the union representing BSO deputies, has been vocal in its criticism of how the sheriff's office has handled the discipline of law enforcement involved in the Gingles case. Dan Rakofsky, president of the Broward Deputy Sheriff's Association, previously told the Herald that there is a 'a rush to prejudge these deputies, as punishment should only be administered for just cause after they have received the due process that the law requires.' In the union's statement Friday, it echoed similar sentiments that the firing recommendations are due to the BSO's mishandling of information and not solely based on the actions of the deputies. 'This evening, we see the consequences of inappropriate public statements and premature release of information,' it said. 'The Sheriff's press conference, three days after the heinous and horrific murders in Tamarac, was a dog whistle and clear message to what was supposed to be an unbiased Professional Standards Committee.' The statement also claimed that the agency's act was a stunt for the public's sake. 'These excessive punishments demonstrate an overreaction by the Sheriff, where gaps in the agency's capabilities have been exposed, along with many systemic and institutional processes in need of better oversight and/or revision,' the union said. 'This is an overreaction for public effect that does nothing to prevent the next tragedy. The termination of many of these heroes does nothing to make the people of Broward County safer.'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
West Park man shot by Broward Sheriff's deputy faces several charges
A 22-year-old man shot by a Broward Sheriff's deputy during an altercation in West Park now faces several charges. Deputies responded to a 911 call about 12:20 p.m. Sunday over a disturbance involving a weapon in the 4000 block of Southwest 26th Street in West Park, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release on Monday. When deputies confronted him, Joshua Gullatt punched a deputy, knocking him to the ground, the Sheriff's Office said. Another deputy used a Taser, but Gullatt hit him and then ran into a bedroom and grabbed a weapon, the release said. One of the deputies shot Gullatt. The deputy who fired his weapon is on administrative assignment pending the investigation. Gullatt faces two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, one count of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, one count of resisting arrest with violence and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Gullatt and the deputy who was punched were treated at a hospital. The deputy had been released by Monday afternoon, but Gullatt remained in the hospital. The Sheriff's Office did not specify which deputy fired his gun, how many shots were fired or whether any weapons were recovered from the home on a street of single-family houses between Pembroke Road and Hallandale Beach Boulevard. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the deputy-involved shooting, while BSO Homicide and Crime Scene units are investigating the initial incident. BSO's Internal Affairs Unit is conducting an administrative review. Sun Sentinel reporter David Fleshler contributed to this report. This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Several more BSO deputies suspended, fired in wake of Tamarac triple murder
Several more Broward Sheriff's deputies were suspended without pay or fired Friday in the continuing aftermath of a Tamarac triple homicide, records show. At least five Tamarac district deputies were placed on administrative leave without pay: Dia Cross, Daimeon Nelson, Eric Baide, Eric Klisiak, and Lemar Blackwood, according to notices of suspension or termination obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel. A sixth deputy who was on probationary status, Stephen Tapia, was terminated Friday 'for failure to meet probationary standards.' An angry Sheriff Gregory Tony had vowed to hold his deputies accountable following the shooting of Mary Gingles, her father, David Ponzer, and a neighbor, Andrew Ferrin, in a quiet Tamarac community on Feb. 16. Mary Gingles had repeatedly sought help from the Sheriff's Office, saying in a court petition that she believed her husband, Nathan Gingles, was going to kill her. Gingles is now charged with three counts of first-degree murder. 'There will be people that lose their job over this,' Tony had said at a news conference three days after the murders. 'And I'll make sure they don't win a damn arbitration.' Tony had suspended seven deputies with pay immediately after the shooting. An eighth deputy was suspended shortly after. And the captain of the entire district, Jemeriah Cooper, was demoted to deputy before he was terminated in May. Former head of BSO's Tamarac unit fired after demotion over triple murder BSO had evidence of suspicious bag left at Tamarac murder victim's home before her death, report shows At least 15 deputies have now been suspended or fired since the triple shooting. The five on Friday were suspended without pay entirely; some had previously been suspended with pay. The Sheriff's Office did not provide any details on their role the day of the shooting due to the ongoing investigation, but all five are being charged with not meeting BSO standards when it comes to an 'active shooter,' according to their notices. Many of them also face charges relating to 'neglect of duty,' 'discretion,' and 'Body Worn Cameras.' Another deputy, Daniel Lovallo, was placed on administrative leave with pay in April. One of the charges in his case has to do with 'meeting BSO standards' in relation to 'Domestic Violence/Dating Violence Case Procedure,' according to his notice. Some of the deputies who were originally suspended with pay in February are now suspended without pay. A sergeant, Travis Allen, whose suspension was one of the seven initially reported by the Sun Sentinel, went from administrative leave with pay to without pay on May 23. Allen had responded to the scene with other deputies setting up a perimeter about 6 a.m. on Feb. 16 and had spotted people matching the appearance of Nathan Gingles and his young daughter walking in the neighborhood from his car, according to the probable cause affidavit. He broadcast over radio that he had seen a man and a barefoot girl, 'however, due to the unknown circumstances of the call, deputies continued to canvass the area.' Charges Allen is facing include the active shooter-BSO standards charge, 'taking suitable action' and neglect of duty, according to the notice. Former head of BSO's Tamarac unit fired after demotion over triple murder BSO had evidence of suspicious bag left at Tamarac murder victim's home before her death, report shows Some of the deputies suspended without pay on Friday face unique charges. Blackwood is facing a charge related to 'meeting BSO standards' when it comes to 'responsibilities of the field training deputy/tech,' and Klisiak is charged with 'meeting BSO standards' when it comes to 'Quick Response Force,' according to their notices. This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Six more BSO deputies suspended, fired in wake of Tamarac triple murder
Six more Broward Sheriff's deputies were suspended without pay or fired Friday in the continuing aftermath of a Tamarac triple homicide, records show. Five Tamarac district deputies were placed on administrative leave without pay: Dia Cross, Daimeon Nelson, Eric Baide, Eric Klisiak, and Lemar Blackwood, according to notices of suspension or termination obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel. A sixth deputy who was on probationary status, Stephen Tapia, was terminated Friday 'for failure to meet probationary standards.' An angry Sheriff Gregory Tony had vowed to hold his deputies accountable following the shooting of Mary Gingles, her father, David Ponzer, and a neighbor, Andrew Ferrin, in a quiet Tamarac community on Feb. 16. Mary Gingles had repeatedly sought help from the Sheriff's Office, saying in a court petition that she believed her husband, Nathan Gingles, was going to kill her. Gingles is now charged with three counts of first-degree murder. 'There will be people that lose their job over this,' Tony had said at a news conference three days after the murders. 'And I'll make sure they don't win a damn arbitration.' Tony had suspended seven deputies with pay immediately after the shooting. An eighth deputy was suspended shortly after. And the captain of the entire district, Jemeriah Cooper, was demoted to deputy before he was terminated in May. Former head of BSO's Tamarac unit fired after demotion over triple murder BSO had evidence of suspicious bag left at Tamarac murder victim's home before her death, report shows At least 15 deputies have now been suspended or fired since the triple shooting. The five on Friday were suspended without pay entirely; some had previously been suspended with pay. The Sheriff's Office did not provide any details on their role the day of the shooting due to the ongoing investigation, but all five are being charged with not meeting BSO standards when it comes to an 'active shooter,' according to their notices. Many of them also face charges relating to 'neglect of duty,' 'discretion,' and 'Body Worn Cameras.' Another deputy, Daniel Lovallo, was placed on administrative leave with pay in April. One of the charges in his case has to do with 'meeting BSO standards' in relation to 'Domestic Violence/Dating Violence Case Procedure,' according to his notice. Some of the deputies who were originally suspended with pay in February are now suspended without pay. A sergeant, Travis Allen, whose suspension was one of the seven initially reported by the Sun Sentinel, went from administrative leave with pay to without pay on May 23. Allen had responded to the scene with other deputies setting up a perimeter about 6 a.m. on Feb. 16 and had spotted people matching the appearance of Nathan Gingles and his young daughter walking in the neighborhood from his car, according to the probable cause affidavit. He broadcast over radio that he had seen a man and a barefoot girl, 'however, due to the unknown circumstances of the call, deputies continued to canvass the area.' Charges Allen is facing include the active shooter-BSO standards charge, 'taking suitable action' and neglect of duty, according to the notice. Former head of BSO's Tamarac unit fired after demotion over triple murder BSO had evidence of suspicious bag left at Tamarac murder victim's home before her death, report shows Some of the deputies suspended without pay on Friday face unique charges. Blackwood is facing a charge related to 'meeting BSO standards' when it comes to 'responsibilities of the field training deputy/tech,' and Klisiak is charged with 'meeting BSO standards' when it comes to 'Quick Response Force,' according to their notices. This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
CBS News
03-03-2025
- CBS News
Video captures moments before call made in Deerfield Beach shooting that left man dead, neighbors react
Neighbors react to Saturday night's deadly shooting in Deerfield Beach as new video captured the moments before the call was made. Surveillance video captured a loud noise just minutes after a call came in for a shooting near 900 SW 14th St, where Broward Sheriff's deputies found a man with a gunshot wound. He later died at the hospital. Deputies have not released the name of the victim. "I don't understand how the violence can be around here, which we don't need," said Shirley Scott. The call came in around 7:18 p.m., but Scott only found out about it this morning. "That's scary 'cause it make everybody he up on their p's and q's," Scott said. Deputies said one person ran away from the scene that they believed was the shooter. They chased that person down with K9s and aviation. But for now, deputies haven't said if any arrests have been made. "It's a very quiet neighborhood and I hope they catch that person," Scott said. Investigators were canvassing the neighborhood again Sunday morning after the crime scene tape was cleared. They're still figuring out what caused this shooting.
