Democrat Consultant Pushing BSO Colonel As Sheriff Tony Replacement?

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David Holmes, left, with former Sheriff Scott Israel

Law enforcement chat rooms were buzzing this week with news that a Democrat consultant is pushing a BSO Colonel to replace beleaguered Sheriff Gregory Tony. Several posts in the law enforcement forums website claimed consultant Judy Stern was trying to sell her contacts in Governor Ron DeSantis on naming Colonel David Holmes as Tony’s replacement. Sources told REDBROWARD that Tony could face charges and removal from office for failing to disclose his role in the 1993 murder of Hector Rodriguez of Philadelphia.

The website gossip claimed Holmes was already holding meetings with other BSO officers to set up a succession plan. Our sources claim Holmes did meet with other high-ranking BSO officials to discuss a myriad of issues including “redoing contracts that have been already awarded.”

Stern is a close ally and advisor to Broward State Senator Perry Thurston who is despised by the Parkland supporters of Sheriff Tony. The Parkland families have funded Broward First, a political committee, supporting Tony’s election. Would the Parkland families allow Stern to use this money to support Holmes?

Also, Stern is often an paid consultant for the Florida Democrat Party. Would the Parkland families allow Stern to use funds that may hurt Donald Trump and Republicans in November?

Here’s a Facebook post from September 2017 about David Holmes:

Major David Holmes, a former Miami Dolphins defensive back, has spent his life making a major difference on and off the field. When injuries hampered his NFL career, Major Holmes embarked on a career in law enforcement that led him to BSO in 1998.

“I always wanted to work in a profession where I could give back. Law enforcement was always a love of mine. Growing up in a small town in New Jersey, law enforcement was very well respected. The neighborhood looked up to the officers. I felt comfortable around them, so when my playing days were over, I knew this was something I wanted to do.“

In 2006, Major Holmes helped start F.A.S.T. Camp (Fitness, Agility, Strength, and Technique), a safe environment for young people in South Florida to learn the importance of responsibility, commitment and respect, as well as athletics. Several BSO deputies joined the camp as volunteers to help mentor.

To date, two F.A.S.T. participants have made it to the NFL and over 20 have made it to a Division I program.

“With hard work and discipline, number one at home, number two in the classroom and number three on the football field, they can be successful in life. Hopefully when I leave here one day, kids can say, ‘I remember Major Holmes, he made an impact on me and I’m successful in society because he helped me.’”

Asked if he gets recognized more as a defensive back for the Dolphins or a Major at BSO, Holmes says, “Definitely a Major at BSO!”

Then in January 2019, Holmes got promoted by Sheriff Tony:

Congratulations to BSO veteran David Holmes, promoted by Sheriff Gregory Tony to Lieutenant Colonel.

In January of 1994, Lieutenant Colonel David Holmes began his law enforcement career with the Federal Bureau of Investigations as an intelligence analyst assigned to the National Drug Intelligence Center in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. In 1996, he left the FBI and joined the Drug Enforcement Administration as a Diversion Investigator. In 1998, he joined the Broward Sheriff’s Office. During his career with BSO, he worked road patrol in the Central Broward district, served on the district’s Selective Enforcement Team and the detective bureau. In 2001, he was assigned to Internal Affairs where he worked both as a detective and sergeant before being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in December 2006. After his promotion to lieutenant, he was assigned to Lauderdale Lakes district as an operations lieutenant and later to the South Broward District where he served as executive lieutenant.

In early July 2010, he was promoted to the position of District Chief for BSO’s North Lauderdale district. In January 2013, he was promoted to Regional Major for the Department of Law Enforcement.

Lieutenant Colonel Holmes has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship. He is also a graduate of the Executive Leadership Program, the University of Louisville’s Southern Police Institute Officers Commanders Course and the Florida FBI National Academy Executive Development Seminar.

And Tony promoted Holmes again in September 2019:

Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony believes in promoting from within and utilizing the talent that exists within the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Described as hard working and deserving, it’s no surprise that Sheriff Tony selected Colonel David Holmes to lead the Department of Law Enforcement (DLE).
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Colonel Holmes joined BSO in 1998. He worked road patrol in the Central Broward District, served on the district’s Selective Enforcement Team and the detective bureau. He has continued rising through the ranks from regional major to Lieutenant Colonel for DLE and now on to Colonel for DLE.
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Join us in congratulating Colonel Holmes on his promotion. We’re excited about the leadership talent and gifts he’s bringing to this new role.

SOURCES: State Discussing Charges In Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony Affidavit Matter

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According to two longtime sources, State law enforcement officials met with Governor Ron DeSantis in Miami Gardens on Wednesday morning to discuss the controversy surrounding Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony. The sources tell REDBROWARD FDLE officials met with the Governor at Hard Rock Stadium to discuss an “executive investigation” into Tony’s failure to disclose charges surrounding the 1993 shooting of Hector “Chino” Rodriguez in Philadelphia.

On Sunday, The Florida Bulldog revealed a fourteen year old Gregory Tony was charged with the murder of Rodriguez.

“When I was 14 years old, growing up in a neighborhood in Philadelphia filled with violence and gang activity, I shot an armed man in self-defense. The juvenile authorities reviewed my actions and cleared my name,” Tony wrote in an email to The Florida Bulldog. “This was the most difficult and painful experience of my life and I have never spoken of it publicly. I worked every day from that time forward to leave the violence that surrounded me in Philadelphia behind.”

On Monday, The Sun-Sentinel reported Tony failed to disclose the matter when he applied for a position with the Coral Springs Police Department in 2005. Tony answered “no” to questions asking about being arrested and whether criminal records were sealed or expunged. In several interviews since the Bulldog story broke, Tony has maintained he did not disclose the matter to anyone, including Governor Ron DeSantis, because the records were sealed after he was found not guilty.

On Wednesday, the Bulldog published a copy of a January 2020 FDLE document signed by Tony where he declared, “under oath that he never had a criminal record sealed or expunged.”

According to The Bulldog:

The Jan. 7 affidavit – notarized, signed and dated boldly in blue ink by Tony – comes to light amid news that Tony shot and killed a man in Philadelphia when he was a teenager in 1993 and that all court records about his case are sealed.

The form includes a notice above Tony’s signature that it constitutes an official statement under the law and that any “intentional omission” or “false execution…shall constitute a misdemeanor of the second degree and disqualify the officer for employment as an officer.”

Under Florida law, a second-degree misdemeanor is punishable by “a definite term of imprisonment not exceeding 60 days” or up to a $500 fine.

Late Wednesday, an FDLE spokesperson confirmed to the Sun-Sentinel that it was aware the matter.

“We did receive a complaint and we will review the complaint,“ said Gretl Plessinger, spokesperson for the FDLE. “We do not have an active investigation.”

However, sources tell REDBROWARD that law enforcement officials gave Governor Ron DeSantis a briefing on the legal issues and possible charges facing Tony.

According to our sources, the statute of limitations would prevent any case against Tony for his answers on the 2005 Coral Springs Police Department application. One source said no charges would come from that application since Tony retired from the CSPD and entered the private sector.

The January 2020 FDLE affidavit allegedly presents real legal and political problems for Sheriff Tony.

The source states Tony’s recent press comments about his “sealed” records bolsters chances of bringing misdemeanor charges against him. And even though just a misdemeanor, this type of charge might warrant Tony’s removal from office.

The source stated Tallahassee would give Tony several days to decide whether he should resign or face an ongoing investigation.

Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony