Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Norman Foster
Department: Office of Management and Budget
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution transferring funds within the Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LETF) for the Broward Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $127,000 for the purpose of providing funds for the Sheriff’s Award Recognition Program.
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution transferring funds within the Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LETF) for the Broward Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $311,900 for the purpose of providing funds for the Sheriff’s Youth Services Program.
C. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution transferring funds within the Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LETF) for the Broward Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $150,000 for the purpose of providing funds for the Digital Evidence Compliance Program.
D. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution transferring funds within the Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LETF) for the Broward Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $39,934 for the purpose of providing funds for the Organized Crime Task Force.
E. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution transferring funds within the Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LETF) for the Broward Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $30,944 for the purpose of providing funds for the Gang Investigative Task Force.
F. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution transferring funds within the Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LETF) for the Broward Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $160,000 for the purpose of providing funds for the Narcotics Detection Dog Program.
G. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution transferring funds within the Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LETF) for the Broward Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $246,519 for the purpose of providing funds for the Broward County Drug Task Force.
H. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution transferring funds within the Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LETF) for the Broward Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $144,123 for the purpose of providing funds for the Narcotics Interdiction Task Force.
I. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution transferring funds within the Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LETF) for the Broward Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $1,528,000 for the purpose of providing funds for the Broward County Money Laundering Task Force.
body
Why Action is Necessary
Florida Statutes 932.7055(5)(a) requires that proceeds from the disposition of liens and forfeited property obtained from criminal procedure and corrections be deposited in a special law enforcement trust fund to be used for law enforcement purposes. Recommendation of the Sheriff and Board approval are required to appropriate LETF funds.
What Action Accomplishes
A. Provides LETF funding in the amount of $127,000 for the Sheriff’s Award Recognition Program.
B. Provides LETF funding in the amount of $311,900 for the Sheriff’s Youth Services Program.
C. Provides LETF funding in the amount of $150,000 for the Digital Evidence Compliance Program.
D. Provides LETF funding in the amount of $39,934 for the Organized Crime Task Force.
E. Provides LETF funding in the amount of $30,944 for the Gang Investigative Task Force.
F. Provides LETF funding in the amount of $160,000 for the Narcotics Detection Dog Program.
G. Provides LETF funding in the amount of $246,519 for the Broward County Drug Task Force.
H. Provides LETF funding in the amount of $144,123 for the Narcotics Interdiction Task Force.
I. Provides LETF funding in the amount of $1,528,000 for the Broward County Money Laundering Task Force.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☐County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
A. The Broward Sheriff's Office supports this LETF request for the Sheriff's Award Recognition Program. This program establishes a formal Sheriff's Award Recognition Program in perpetuity. The funding will go towards the procurement of medals. award ribbons, plaques, trophies, and related items. The Sheriff's Award Recognition Program is open to any BSO employee and member of the public who exhibit commendable achievements, actions, or initiatives pertaining to their service in the interest of public safety. This will increase morale and job satisfaction by formally recognizing employee commendable achievements, actions, or initiatives.
B. The Broward Sheriff's Office supports this LETF request for the Sheriff's Youth Services Program. The program will offer in perpetuity participating youth opportunities for positive interactions with public safety professionals across BSO and provide an avenue for the participating youth to provide service to the community. Programs include BSO Explorers, Police Athletic League, and the BSO LEAD Camp. Each of these programs is structured to instill valuable life skills such as teamwork, professionalism and etiquette, while also offering training and experience for a future career in public safety.
C. The Broward Sheriff’s Office supports this LETF request for the Digital Evidence Compliance Program. The Digital Evidence Compliance Program is designed to ensure timely and lawful handling of digital evidence. Due to the recent legislative changes effective July 1, 2025, which now mandates that law enforcement agencies process digital evidence within a 45-day timeframe. This program is necessary due to the increase in workload. This requirement significantly increases the workload of units who are tasked with receiving and processing this digital evidence and complying with state statute. This program will be used to fund overtime and training for personnel in the ICAC, DFU, and CESU units to allow them to process digital devices. This program aims to reduce backlogs, improve prosecutorial readiness, and enhance adherence to statutory requirements for digital evidence handling.
D. The Broward Sheriff's Office supports this LETF request for the Organized Crime Task Force. The Broward Sheriff's Office administers the Organized Crime Task Force account for the members of the task force. This agreement has been in place as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which BSO is an active member, along with the other cities that participate. The task force MOU stipulates that 25% of the assets seized are returned to the task force to cover the operational and administrative costs. The Organized Crime Task Force investigates traditional and non-traditional organized crime groups operating in the South Florida area. Any illegitimate proceeds or assets gained by these organizations through criminal activity will be targeted for seizure by the task force.
E. The Broward Sheriff's Office supports this LETF request for the Gang Investigative Task Force. The Broward County Sheriff's Office administers the Gang Investigations Task Force account for the members of the task force. This agreement has been in place as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which BSO is an active member along with other cities that participate. The task force MOU stipulates that 30% of the assets seized are returned to the task force to cover operational and administrative costs. The Gang Investigations Task Force conducts investigations into the criminal gang organizations in the South Florida area. Any illegitimate proceeds or assets gained by these organizations through criminal activity will be targeted for seizure by the task force.
F. The Broward Sheriff's Office supports this LETF request for the Narcotics Detection Dog Program. The Narcotics Detection Dog Program's responsibilities is to assist the Broward Sheriff's Office Department of Law Enforcement. Department of Detention, local municipalities, state, and federal agencies with investigations relating to narcotics, currency, and firearms within Broward County. This program will continue to assist law enforcement with establishing probable cause and locating evidence that may be concealed, which is necessary to prosecute an arrest or investigation successfully.
G. The Broward Sheriff’s Office supports this LETF request for the Broward County Drug Task Force. The Broward Sheriff's Office administers the Broward County Drug Task Force account for the members of the task force. This agreement has been in place as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which BSO is an active member. along with the other cities that participate. The task force MOU stipulates that 20% of the assets seized are returned to the task force to cover the operational and administrative costs. The Broward County Drug Task Force works criminal cases and drug trafficking organizations in the South Florida area. The Task Force targets criminal organizations committing illegal acts, makes arrests and seizes assets associated with their criminal activity.
H. The Broward Sheriff's Office supports this LETF request for the Narcotics Interdiction Task Force. The Broward Sheriff's Office administers the Narcotics Interdiction Task Force accounts for task force members. This agreement has been in place as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), of which BSO is an active member, along with the other cities that participate. The task force MOU stipulates that 20% of the assets seized are returned to the task force to cover the operational and administrative costs. Because this is a tenured task force, many seizures, both State and Federal, are pending forfeiture. This Task Force has existed for over 31 years. Numerous arrests have been made, and millions of dollars have been seized, with some already placed into the BSO/Law Enforcement Trust Fund as a direct result of the Task Force's efforts.
I. The Broward Sheriff's Office supports this LETF request for the Broward County Money Laundering Task Force. The Broward Sheriff's Office administers the Broward County Money Laundering Task Force (BCML TF) account for the members of the task force. This agreement has been in place as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which BSO is an active member, along with the other cities that participate. The BCMLTF MOU stipulates that 20% of the assets seized are returned to the task force to cover the operational and administrative costs. The Broward County Money Laundering Task Force works criminal cases which involve money laundering in the South Florida area. The Task Force targets criminal organizations committing illegal acts and makes arrests and seizes assets associated with their criminal activity.
Source of Additional Information
Jennifer Steelman, Director, Office of Management and Budget, (954) 357-6226
Colonel Oscar Llerena, BSO Department of Administration, (954) 831-8180
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Funds are available within the Law Enforcement Trust Fund for these actions. According to BSO, the current balance of the LETF, as of September 19, 2025, is $6,273,970 in the local account ($4,337,958 of which is unrestricted) and $16,550,793 in the federal account ($10,415,201 of which is unrestricted). This action will utilize a total of $2,738,420 of which $1,394,499 will be from the Local LETF and $1,343,921 from the Federal LETF. Of the Local LETF amount, $1,082,599 will be from restricted funds and $311,900 will be from unrestricted funds. Of the Federal LETF amount, $906,921 will be from restricted funds and $437,000 will be from unrestricted funds.