Broward county recent arrests mugshots4/11/2024 The facts of the investigation will come out in court where ultimately a jury of Thomas’s peers will review the evidence and make a determination of guilt or innocence. The alleged charges, if true, are extremely concerning and unacceptable. “We are only privy to the charges brought against him and not the details of the investigation. “The International Union of Police Associations (I.U.P.A.) Local 6020 is aware of the arrest of Jemiah Thomas,” union President Matt Cowart said in a statement to Local 10 News. I have made a commitment to transparency and accountability in this organization, and this case shows, once again, that we will hold our employees accountable.”įollowing his arrest on Tuesday, authorities said he was placed on administrative leave without pay. “As soon as BSO learned of these allegations, we immediately began an investigation which resulted in Deputy Thomas’s arrest just days later. If these allegations are true, Deputy Thomas broke that trust,” Sheriff Gregory Tony said at a press conference on Tuesday. One of the most important obligations that law enforcement officers have is to protect our greatest resource, our kids. “The arrest of Deputy Jemiah Thomas on these charges is deeply disturbing. The child, in actuality the undercover detective, cancelled the meeting with Thomas which led to his arrest, according to BSO. On Monday, Thomas arrived at a Broward County hotel and advised the girl that he was present and awaiting her arrival, deputies said. On Sunday, authorities said Thomas engaged the girl in conversation about renting a hotel room to engage in sexual activity. Thomas is also accused of sending the child a photo of his private parts, according to investigators. In those conversations, Thomas indicated his desire to meet with her privately and perform sex acts on her. The men and women all around BSO work tirelessly to keep the citizens of Broward County safe and are proud to come to work daily to protect and serve.” Matt Cowart, president of IUPA Local 6020Ĭopyright 2023 by WPLG - All rights reserved.Over the course of nine days, Thomas would engage in text conversations with an undercover detective who Thomas thought was the girl, BSO said. Many of these approximately 5,500 employees risk their lives daily and some unfortunately pay the ultimate sacrifice with the loss of their own lives in their effort protecting the community. The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) is a large agency and contains approximately 5,500 employees. Regardless, employees and all citizens are entitled to and shall receive due process through the court system. Currently, we are not privy to all of the investigative facts. “The International Union of Police Associations (I.U.P.A.) Local 6020 is aware of the investigation surrounding multiple employees. The head of the union representing BSO law enforcement deputies issued a statement to Local 10 News about the charges: “Nobody, as far as I know, is being detained and we will take it from there. We will be back in court.” “Bonds were set, they are being released,” Silber said. Officials told Local 10 News that more indictments could come.īrian Silber, an attorney representing some of the BSO employees, said he couldn’t comment on the nature of the case. Lapointe said the investigation remains ongoing. “But you are only as good as the last act and conduct that you execute,” he noted. Tony said some of those charged were “good officers.” How can we have anyone wearing a badge that is stealing from the American people?” The sheriff added, “If they’re being criminally charged, there’s no place for this in this organization and their due process components will be executed and we will go through that process, but this one here is a no-brainer. “We still have to follow proper protocols and since these are protected members with union rights and other different statutory obligations from the investigation practices that we have to follow, but I’m not going to sugarcoat or dance around this - at the end of the day, they will be gone,” Tony said. Tony, who called the allegations “very disappointing,” said all of the charged employees are in the process of being fired. “We have not been able to find that coordination,” he said. Lapointe said there was no “conspiratorial component” among the 17 charged. Some covered their faces as they left federal court in Fort Lauderdale Thursday. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe said. The 17 charged collectively took just under $500,000 from the federal government, U.S. All are being charged separately with PPP wire fraud, except for Dunkley, who is being charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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