This week, voters of US Congressional district 23 received a mailer from Karen Harrington attacking her Republican opponent Ozzie DeFaria. The piece featured information from a July 2005 police report filed by Lee Martin. In October 2005, as part of large corruption investigation of former Sheriff Ken Jenne, Detective Martin was arrested for filing false police reports.
The Sun Sentinel reported at the time of his arrest, “As part of the fallout from the crime statistics scandal still rocking the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the agency Friday fired a deputy after an internal investigation concluded he falsified records to close cases. Lee Martin, 41, was a detective in the Weston/Southwest Ranches district, but in October 2005, was suspended with pay. Last October, the Sheriff’s Office stopped paying him.Martin’s termination, requiring several sheriff’s officials’ signatures, comes just days before another suspended deputy, Shane Campbell, 33, is set to go to trial on felony charges stemming from the scandal, which became public in 2004.” Even though BSO fired Martin, an arbitrator eventually forced his reinstatement.
Additionally, law enforcement insiders tell RED BROWARD that Martin has been escorting Democrat Sheriff candidate Louis Granteed all around town. Sources say Martin escorted Granteed’s Democrat primary challenger Scott Israel in 2008. One can assume that Martin will never escort Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti (R-Republican) anywhere.
Perhaps the Harrington campaign will double check their sources next time? Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Out Of Touch) would have a field day with a Republican opponent quoting a disgraced Democrat operative.
Karen Harrington, Ozzie DeFaria, Gineen Bresso, Juan Eliel Garcia and Joe Kaufman face off for the CD 23 Republican nomination on August 14, 2012.
The CD 23 candidates will debate on Thursday August 2 7:00pm at the Hollywood Beach Culture and Community 1301 South Ocean Blvd, Hollywood. The debate will be moderated by veteran WPLG/Local 10 political reporter Michael Putney.
