The Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) continues to face fallout from a triple murder in Tamarac, with the demotion of Captain Jeremiah Cooper and the suspension of eight deputies. Cooper, who had served as the executive officer for the Tamarac district since 2021, was demoted to detention deputy, according to an official notice obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Deputy Raul Ortiz was also placed on administrative leave in connection with the events leading up to Sunday last week murders.
Lieutenant Emmanuel Koutsofios has been appointed as the new head of the Tamarac district. Koutsofios, who has been with BSO since 2004 and recently served as the executive officer of the North Lauderdale district, expressed excitement about his new role in front of Tamarac commissioners. "I feel the support, I feel the love in the city," he said in a statement obtained by South Florida Sun Sentinel, although he did not address the recent shootings during his remarks.
The personnel changes come after the tragic deaths of Mary Gingles, her father David Ponzer, and their neighbor Andrew Ferrin. Gingles had previously raised concerns about her husband's threats, including discovering a tracking device on her car. According to NBC Miami, Gingles struggled to get in touch with Deputy Ortiz, who allegedly did not respond to her calls and emails. Following the murders, an Amber Alert led to the safe recovery of Gingles' four-year-old daughter, who witnessed the killings.
The department has not yet released detailed findings of their investigation, though Nathan Gingles, the prime suspect and Mary's husband, is facing multiple charges, including three counts of murder.
