Once again, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony lost his cool at a public meeting. During the January 23, 2024 Broward County Commission meeting, Tony became angry when Commissioner Robert McKinzie referred to dueling proposals for an emergency communication center as a “chess match.”
Tony wants a four story building and seven story parking garage built next to the Broward Sheriffs Office (BSO) headquarters in Fort Lauderdale. The BSO headquarters is owned by Broward County.
As part of its 2016 master plan, Broward County wants the facility built next to its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Plantation. The County owned campus is home to the West Regional Library, the West Regional Courthouse, a bus depot as well as the EOC.
Tony grew angry after several commissioners urged the Sheriff to meet with County Administrators to discuss plans.
This is yet another public blowup by the controversial Tony.
Last year, Tony got into a yelling match with Broward County Commissioner Mark Bogen over troubles at the BSO-operated 911 call center. Several years ago, Tony yelled at Tamarac Commissioners over issues with an arrest.
In testimony before Administrative Law Judge Robert Kilbride last week, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony repeatedly referred to a March 2000 traffic stop in Liberty County. While on the way to Panama City to Tallahassee, Tony stated he was stopped by a member of the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). Tony implied the FHP trooper had done him a favor by going easy on him for driving with a suspended license.
According to his testimony, Tony was unaware his Pennsylvania drivers license was suspended until the March 2000 traffic stop. Tony claimed he was too young to know about the particulars of the 1993 suspension. Tony urged anyone who may know the trooper to tell him he had done a great thing.
Just one problem.
None of the court documents from the 2000 traffic stop make any mention of Tony’s suspended license.
EXPIRED
On Sunday March 19, 2000 Gregory Tony, then 21 years old, was stopped by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper in Liberty County. Even though he lived in an apartment on Appleyard Drive in Tallahassee, Tony produced a Pennsylvania driver’s license.
According to a copy of the criminal violation obtained by REDBROWARD, Tony’s license had expired two years earlier.
There is no mention of any suspension of the driver’s license.
Tony was given a copy of the criminal violation and an April 4, 2002 appearance date.
Documents show Tony appeared at the Liberty Courthouse at the April 2000 hearing. A handwritten note reads “[Tony] present. Case continued for 30 days. Def. instructed to show proof of valid license in Judge’s office or be in court 05-02-00.”
A second handwritten note shows Tony appeared at the May 2000 court date. Instead of producing a valid driver’s license, Tony “plea nolo contendre [no contest], adj. [adjudication] withheld, to pay $123 court cost by 06-06-00.”
A receipt shows Tony paid $123 in court costs.
Why did Tony plead no contest instead of producing a valid driver’s license?
He did not have one.
SUSPENDED
According to an Office of Executive Investigations (OEI) document, Tony’s Pennsylvania license was suspended on August 8, 1993 for “Failure to Appear for Trial or Court Appearance.” In June 1994, Tony received a “Driver Conviction” for “Operator Must Be Licensed.” On March 4, 1997 Tony received a “Driver Conviction” for a red light violation.
The investigation shows Tony’s license was suspended for “five separate cases” on January 23, 1998. Tony’s Pennsylvania driver’s license expired on November 30, 1998.
The OEI investigation found Tony did not possess a valid driver’s license when stopped by the FHP trooper in Liberty County.
According to the report, when he was stopped, “Tony did possess a Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) issued identification card, but not a Florida Driver’s License.”
Coincidentally, the address Tony provided on the Liberty County criminal violation, was an apartment he shared with Sonia Colon.
Colon testified last week as a witness for Sheriff Tony. Under cross examination, Colon admitted to a longtime “romantic relationship” with Tony. Colon admitted to living with Tony at two different Tallahassee apartments.
Colon currently serves as a bureau chief for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Why is Tony acting as if he was unaware of his suspended license status?
State law prohibits issuance of driver’s license to someone with a suspended license in another state.
Did Tony try to obtain a Florida Driver’s License when he arrived in Tallahassee?
Why settle for a State Identification Card instead of Driver’s License?
Why is Tony so thankful to the FHP trooper? Drivers are routinely given time to produce a license, vehicle registration or proof of insurance to avoid paying a fine.
In the 2000 case, Tony was given nearly two months to produce a valid driver’s license.
Tony could not produce one because he did not obtain one.
Who owned the vehicle Tony was driving in March 2000?
Did Gregory Tony have the required automobile insurance?
Why is Sheriff Gregory Tony’s backstory so convoluted?
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