July 9, 2020
By: Staff Report
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Police Chief Rick Maglione has been removed as the top cop in Ft. Lauderdale today. While he will stay on in some capacity as a city employee, that position has yet to be announced.
Assistant Chief Karen Dietrich will run the department in the interim, said City Manager Chris Lagerbloom, who made the decision to change leadership.
Maglione has been in the headlines for his handling of protests in the Ft. Lauderdale area and questions on some of his officer’s excessive use of force tactics during protests.
Fort Lauderdale City Manager Chris Lagerbloom posted the below video on the changes in leadership in the Fort Lauderdale Police Department today.
City Manager Chris Lagerbloom said in his video message that he wanted to bring “fresh eyes” to the police department but added it was not just recent confrontations between officers and racial justice demonstrators that led to the decision.
“There’s not one pivotal moment. I believe it’s for the betterment of our city,” Lagerbloom said.
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