°

Homepage / Miami News
Text Size

Sheriff 'Underestimated' Crime Statistic Scandal

Records Show Sheriff Should Have Known Scope Of Problem Years Ago

POSTED: Monday, February 7, 2005
UPDATED: 12:45 pm EST February 8, 2005

More information about a crime statistics scandal at the Broward Sheriff's Office was made public Monday.

Sheriff Ken Jenne
Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne
Two deputies are accused falsifying police reports to make it look as if they solved more crimes than they really did.

But records released Monday show the problem is more widespread, and that Sheriff Ken Jenne himself may have known about it all along.

"I should have been more inquisitive and I initially underestimated the scope and complexity of this problem," Jenne said.

Jenne admitted to reporters last month that his agency's remarkable record of solving crime is bogus.

But the records released today show Jenne knew there was a widespread problem five years ago.

John Degroot, a former confidant of Jenne, told prosecutors that a consultant for BSO's controversial "Power Track" program recommended in 1999 that the sheriff look closely at the way his deputies were clearing cases.

Prosecutors asked Degroot if he thought, "the root cause of this entire problem goes all the way to the top of the agency?"

Degroot replied, "Having known the sheriff for 31 years, he ain't stupid."

Last month, deputies Chris Thieman and Christian Zappatta were charged with "official misconduct" for allegedly pinning burglary cases on suspects who didn't commit the crimes.

The newly released records show that deputies routinely cleared cases and downgraded crimes

Sponsored Links

Links We Like

Sponsored Content
Check out our picks for the most luxurious and unique homes that were on the market in 2009. More

Find out what a sputtering economy and an increasingly difficult to crack job market means to you. More

The following tips can help your car become a less inviting target and slow down, discourage or actually prevent car theft. More

Believing urban legends about sex could be hurting your sex life. Get the truth behind common sex myths. More

Most Popular