PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Mayor Ashira Mohammed and Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs, typically bitter rivals on the dais in the small south Broward town of Pembroke Park, appear to agree on one thing, sources say: They want the town’s police chief out.
Chief Ra Shana Dabney-Donovan has only been on the job for six months, leading a police department that’s only been around for a year and a half.
But Mohammed and Jacobs, sources tell Local 10 News, are concerned about recent allegations involving officers that are now under investigation.
Local 10 News has learned that two officers are on paid leave and another is on desk duty.
During a commission meeting on March 13, Jacobs, the town’s former mayor who led the charge to replace contracted Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies with an in-house police department, pressed Dabney-Donovan on rumors he’s heard regarding town officers’ conduct.
“We had a suspect that was in handcuffs that got punched by one of our officers and had either a dislocated or broken jaw. Has anyone heard any rumors about that?” Jacobs asked. “Police chief, can you come and address that concern?”
“That rumor is being looked at,” Dabney-Donovan replied. “I’m sorry. With all due respect, commissioner, I cannot discuss an ongoing investigation.”
Jacobs said he also heard another rumor that “another officer entered into an individual’s residence, they took the suspect’s cellphone where an arrest was recorded and they attempted to delete the recording.”
He refused to let up.
“Is there an officer under investigation?” Jacobs asked.
“When you bring these types of rumors forward, especially when they have to do with ongoing investigations, it puts jeopardy on any potential (types of) investigations,” Dabney-Donovan replied.
Jacobs also referenced rumors of an incident at The Polo Club, a bar on Hallandale Beach Boulevard.
“I cannot comment on any ongoing investigations. I have politely stated that at least three times,” Dabney-Donovan said. “I am imploring you, Commissioner Jacobs, to cease and desist.”
Commissioner Erik Morrissette implored Jacobs to work with “facts and not rumors.”
“The rumors and accusations are being investigated. Let the process play out,” he said. “Let’s not jump to conclusions.”
Jacobs was back at it at a special commission meeting Wednesday. This time, the target was the chief.
“We need to look for a new police chief and start to look for a new police chief,” he said.
Jacobs takes credit for building Pembroke Park’s police department in 2022.
His appointed chief, David Howard, was fired without cause when a new commission was elected.
Sources tell Local 10 News he and Mohammed don’t like the way the department is handling officer issues.
The town’s attorney is involved in dealing with alleged complaints against officers.
“The attorney did reach out to (the Florida Department of Law Enforcement) because of the complaints and the serious nature of those complaints,” Mohammed said.
The mayor is now calling for an assessment of the department. The plan is to hire an independent police consultant at a cost of under $25,000.
“What is the reason?” Commissioner William Hodgkins asked Wednesday.
“Because it has been a year since the police department has been in existence and we need to basically get a better understanding of what our shortfalls are, what our strengths and weaknesses are so that we can improve it and keep it moving forward,” Mohammed said.
But sources believe if Dabney-Donovan isn’t voted out, the mayor and Jacobs will use any negative results from the assessment to force her out.
Not everyone on the dais agrees.
“The lady’s been on the job for only six months, and I think she has done a great job for the time she’s been here,” Hodgkins said. “She’s had not an easy time inheriting somebody else’s problems.”
All the officers under investigation were hired by Howard, with the blessing of Jacobs, who was mayor at the time.
Sources believe Mohammed wants the town to contract again with the Broward Sheriff’s Office for police service.
That’s how it was for more than four decades before Jacobs decided to create the department.
It has since struggled with retaining officers; at one point, nearly half the town’s police force had quit, less than a year after the department launched.