Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Patrick Lynn is retiring

Patrick Lynn will be retiring as Fort Lauderdale’s top cop on Dec. 15, city officials confirmed late Monday.

Lynn was hired in March 2022, just 19 days after the firing of former Chief Larry Scirotto. He also filled in as interim chief for the department while Fort Lauderdale searched for a new chief in 2021.

Lynn, who took over as chief on April 4, 2022, brought 35 years of law enforcement experience to the job.

He began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer with Pembroke Pines in 1982 and rose through the ranks before retiring as deputy chief in 2007. He then moved on to the Davie Police Department, where he served as chief from 2007 to 2017.

On Monday night, Commissioner Steve Glassman said he was not surprised by the news.

“When (former Police Chief) Larry Scirotto was let go, Chief Lynn agreed to come out of retirement and assist us on a temporary basis — and he’s done that admirably,” Glassman said. “I’m sorry to hear that he’s leaving, but I don’t think it’s unexpected.”

Lynn’s upcoming exit was not unexpected, City Manager Greg Chavarria told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

‘We are grateful for his service, and we’re very happy for his retirement,” Chavarria said. “We’re going to be looking forward to recruitment, and we’re excited for him and excited for the future.”

Chavarria, who as city manager is in charge of hiring the new chief, would not say who he has in mind, if anyone. But he did say he expects someone to be hired soon.

“I’m optimistic that we will be able to find a chief between now and when he leaves,” Chavarria said.

Mayor Dean Trantalis said he learned Monday that the chief had submitted his resignation.

“We appreciate his hard work and dedication to the city,” Trantalis said. “And now our city manager will engage in a search for new leadership for a department we can all be proud of.”

Lynn holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in public administration from Florida Atlantic University. He is a graduate of the 210th Session of the FBI National Academy and the Southern Police Institute Command Officers Course.

He has also served as president of the Broward County Chiefs of Police Association.

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan