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The state ethics commission voted Friday morning, 3-2 to accept a punishment of public censure and reprimand against Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony for allegedly lying about his prior criminal history and driver’s license suspensions.
An administrative law judge earlier ruled Tony violated state law by not disclosing in 2019 that his driver’s license had previously been suspended.
When Tony was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2019 a cursory background investigation did not reveal that he killed of a man in Philadelphia when he was just 14. The records were sealed.
Tony claimed self-defense and was acquitted in juvenile court, according to records provided to the commission.
In becoming a cop, Tony had sworn repeatedly he had never been arrested or detained for a crime, despite police records in Philadelphia that said otherwise. He also claimed no criminal records naming him were ever expunged.
As part of the deal, Tony will assure the commission the investigation has taught him a lesson, that it will affect how “he conducts himself as a public official in a positive way.”