Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony has put himself in the thick of a contentious spat with Deerfield Beach City Manager Rodney Brimlow, stemming from a dispute over contract negotiations concerning deputy pay raises. The squabble has escalated to the point where Tony, during a virtual roll call, inquired whether he should "destroy" Brimlow, a query he later shared in an Instagram post. According to a report by Local 10 News, Tony posed the rhetorical question to deputies, asking, "You tell me if I should go absolutely nuclear on this and destroy him? Because I have the power of this office to do a lot of damage to individuals."
The sheriff's comments have caused Brimlow, himself a former Broward deputy, to opt for remote work amid concerns regarding Tony’s combative language. During an interview, Deerfield Beach Mayor Todd Drosky shared with Local 10 News that the "city manager’s decision to work remotely comes amid concern over Tony’s language." When prompted to comment on whether Brimlow felt threatened, Drosky suggested one would need to speak directly with the city manager. The disagreement between Tony and the city reportedly centers on the refusal to raise deputy pay in the new contract, with Tony advocating for what he believes is a warranted increase.
Sheriff Tony posted a video to social media addressing the clash, directly attributing the stalled negotiations to Brimlow. He shared a portion of his sentiments during the roll call, saying "He’s saying none of you deserve it. There’s no [expletive] tap dancing around it; that’s what he’s telling you guys. You tell me if I should go absolutely nuclear on this and destroy him, because I have the power of this office to do a lot of damage to individuals, but I have safeguard and protected my personal temperament." This was later highlighted in a follow-up by WSVN.
Drosky told 7News, "It’s very disappointing to hear that language from the sheriff, again, when we’re trying to put a marriage together. That’s terminology that I would not use." Meanwhile, BSO is set to keep providing services to Deerfield Beach during this transition period.
