Public voices strong opposition to merger between PBSO and city police
Public voices strong opposition to merger between PBSO and city police
There are probably plenty of residents in Boynton Beach that think it's a good idea for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office takes over law enforcement from the city police department.
But proponents of such a move are not making their voices heard, at least not at city commisision meetings.
That was definitely the case Aug. 2 when nearly two dozen people spoke out against the proposed $42 million merger.
"Twenty want to keep city police, two want a referendum and zero for PBSO," Commissioner Thomas Turkin said after the final speaker.
Nothing has been decided yet. The commission still wants to hear more from PBSO before a final decision is made. A major point of contention will be body cameras. Boynton Beach police officers use them. PBSO deputies don't.
But body cameras or no body cameras, "it sounds like the people have spoken," Turkinn said after the Aug. 2 meeting.
The biggest news out of the city last week wasn't the merger, but interim City Manager Jim Stables' decision to appoint Joe DeGiulio as police chief and Hugh Bruder as fire chief. DeGiulio and Bruder had each been serving in interim capacities before they were given the permanent jobs.
It was a reversal for Stables, who earlier had said it would be "inappropriate" for an interim city manager to hire permanent police and fire chiefs.
Jorge Milian
South Palm Beach County reporter | The Palm Beach Post
Twitter: @caneswatch
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Post on Boynton Beach weekly newsletter
