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Pembroke Pines commission votes to end practice of issuing ceremonial badges after school incident
Summary
After debate about an incident at a local high school and questions raised by a State Attorney summary, the commission unanimously directed staff to draft a resolution discontinuing issuance of ceremonial commission badges and to retrieve badges currently held by commissioners.
Pembroke Pines commissioners voted unanimously March 21 to direct staff to prepare a resolution discontinuing the city’s practice of issuing ceremonial police-style badges to members of the commission and to retrieve badges in commissioners' possession.
The motion followed a sustained exchange about an incident at Flanagan High School in which a badge reportedly was produced while a commissioner questioned students. One commissioner summarized excerpts of a State Attorney investigative summary and said the matter reflected poorly on the city and on the symbolism of a law-enforcement badge. The speaker said the investigation’s reporting that witnesses found the interaction credible made it inappropriate for commissioners to continue to accept ceremonial badges.
Mayor Angelo Castillo, reflecting on the tradition, said he had kept his badge in a desk drawer for years and returned his badge to city staff earlier in the day. “I gave it back so that we could send the message loud and clear that that's just not how we do business here,” he said.
Public commenters and other commissioners urged civility and noted sensitivity to families and children. One public speaker requested that the full investigative materials be released internally; commissioners declined to release material that remains part of internal or legal processes but moved to change city policy on badges.
The commission’s unanimous direction instructs the city attorney to prepare a formal resolution to discontinue the practice and directs the police department to collect ceremonial badges that are in private possession. The resolution will be prepared for a future meeting and returned with the necessary procedures for retrieval.
