Hometown News and Views

By Michael d’Oliveira
Pelican staff
Pompano Beach - Broward Sheriff’s Office [BSO Captain John Hale began his police career as a patrol officer in this city in 1987 and will return soon as its chief.
Beach said Hale has an excellent track record and credentials and his appointment could come as early as today. “At this point in time my intentions are to select him as the next chief of police,” said Beach.
Commissioners met with Hale, chief of Cooper City since 2004, on Wednesday and a the ones The Pelican interviewed say they would have no problem with City Manager Dennis Beach selecting him as the next chief.
Captain Wayne Adkins is serving as acting chief until a permanent candidate is selected.
Hale would succeed Lt. Colonel William Knowles who was promoted by Sheriff Scott Israel in January and transferred to BSO’s Public Safety Building in Fort Lauderdale. Per the city’s contract agreement, BSO has to provide at least three suggestions to replace Knowles. City Manager Dennis Beach will make the decision to hire the new chief, but the act is always done with the mutual consent of the city commission.  
Commissioner Rex Hardin called Hale a “good fit” for Pompano. “I don’t think there’s a need to have three names. Let’s get this taken care of as quickly as possible so we can have some leadership.”
Vice Mayor George Brummer said he isn’t expecting to be asked for his approval of Hale but he’s not worried about Beach’s ability to make the right decision. “Nobody asked me, for instance, if I wanted Bill Knowles [as chief],” said Brummer.
And although Brummer said Hale has a little catching up to do, “in the sense of knowing how things are done today [in Pompano],” he seemed satisfied after the meeting. “He knows the neighborhoods and the city and I really couldn’t ask for more,” said Brummer.
Hale served the former Pompano Beach Police Department as a patrol officer, criminal investigations detective, patrol sergeant and internal affairs sergeant. He joined BSO when it took over operations in Pompano in 1999. After the merger, he served as Pompano Beach District Area 2 captain, the executive lieutenant for Areas 1 and 2 and the administrative sergeant in Area 2.
Hale holds both an associate in science in police studies and a bachelor of science in criminal justice management from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. He is a graduate of the Florida Atlantic University Center for Advanced Criminal Justice Studies’ Executive Leadership Program and the 234th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Mayor Lamar Fisher, who said he’s known Hale for a long time, expressed no doubts. “He was born and raised in Pompano,” said Fisher. “All the indication shows he would be an excellent fit for us. Even [former sheriff Al] Lamberti was talking about [promoting him].” Commissioner Barry Dockswell declined to give his opinion and The Pelican was unable to reach Commissioners Woodrow Poitier and Charlotte Burrie in time for publication.