Broward Sheriff deputy Jeff Bell blasts Andrew Gillum on Fox News
Jeff Bell on Fox News

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Jeff Bell, president of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association, went on Fox News today to lambaste Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum.

Specifically, Bell called out the Democrat for signing a pledge with the Dream Defenders.

“From a law enforcement perspective, when you have a potential candidate for the next governor whose willing to sign a pledge with an anti-law enforcement, anti-government radical group such as the Dream Defenders,” Bell said, “he’s clearly sending a message to the voters before Election Day that he’s willing to support, defend and recognize radical groups like the Dream Defenders and he supports radicalization over the rule of law.”

The deputies’ association made its endorsement of Republican Ron DeSantis last week, as reported by POLITICO Florida.

In response, Gillum’s campaign released a statement defending the candidate’s history with law enforcement as mayor of Tallahassee, saying he “has been a strong ally of law enforcement in Tallahassee, investing in additional officers to help reduce crime across the city.”

The campaign suggested the need for reform led to Gillum signing the pledge.

“As Mayor Gillum has previously said, he will not take money from the private prison industry and instead will invest in community policing, smart justice and strategies that work with communities to reduce crime and create better opportunities for all Floridians.”

Fox News read a controversial except of the “Freedom Pledge” in question: “Police were never meant to serve me and you… Police and prisons since their founding have always been about safety for the haves while wreaking havoc for the have-nots.”

That prompted Bell to speak out.

“We just cannot afford that in our state,” he told Fox viewers.

The story about the pledge grew this week within conservative media circles, starting in Sunshine State News before getting picked up by Breitbart and now Fox News.

Bell earlier this week told local radio station WNJO said Gillum’s association with Dream Defenders would lead to “further assassinations of deputies and police officers that are on the street protecting everybody.”

Jacob Ogles

Jacob Ogles has covered politics in Florida since 2000 for regional outlets including SRQ Magazine in Sarasota, The News-Press in Fort Myers and The Daily Commercial in Leesburg. His work has appeared nationally in The Advocate, Wired and other publications. Events like SRQ’s Where The Votes Are workshops made Ogles one of Southwest Florida’s most respected political analysts, and outlets like WWSB ABC 7 and WSRQ Sarasota have featured his insights. He can be reached at [email protected].


6 comments

  • Ray Tampa

    October 21, 2018 at 4:08 am

    Deputy Bell represents everything wrong with law enforcement. He exudes an air mistrust.

    I will take a Sheriff Israel over his type any day. I will take Gillium over DeSantis 100 percent of the time.

    Deputy Bell seems to be that type of rogue lawman who is aligned with the White Nationalists.

    • Nordonia Nate

      October 21, 2018 at 8:12 am

      Tampa Ray… YOU will take Sheriff Israel???

      Tampa Ray… YOU would support the sheriff that failed the community, the youth and the parents!!!!

      Tampa Ray …. WHAT kind of HATE is in your head???

      YOU are the very reason Gillum should NEVER have any kind of power…

      • Ray Tampa

        October 21, 2018 at 10:32 am

        Nate, why did you characterize my comments as hate? I notice in your postings that you LOVE everything about Trump/Scott/DeSantis. Therefore, you LOVE fraudsters, liars, bullies, sexual assaulters, corrupt schemers and racists.

        Yes, there were a number of entities that made mistakes along the way in terms of the unfortunate murders in Parkland, Sheriff Department included. Nevertheless, Sheriff Israel, as a person of integrity, is head and shoulders above the people you love.

    • Preston R Scott

      October 21, 2018 at 12:41 pm

      Too bad you have not lived in Tallahassee. Your comments reveal a total lack of information. As someone who has lived in Tallahassee since 1987 Gillum is not only inept and lacking any real life experience, but the public voting record reveals the truth. He voted AGAINST any requests for increase spending to hire needed law enforcement year, after year, after year until Tallahassee’s murder rate exploded and hit number one in the state. Think about that for a moment. More than Broward, Miami-Dade, Duval, etc. Instead he voted to hand millions of taxpayer dollars to help his friend build and open a restaurant (the same friend who is in the middle the FBI corruption investigation); another vote help another centerpiece in the FBI probe receive funds to expand his restaurant patio. The list goes on an on…and now, Gillum’s brother and sister are being revealed to have committed voter fraud. The state MSM is not performing due diligence other than one story by Politico-Florida proving Gillum IS under FBI investigation. Gillum is a smooth talking young man with a socialists agenda and results which have been an abject failure in Tallahassee.

    • Lori

      October 21, 2018 at 5:42 pm

      Sorry, can’t help it. You’re an idiot. Stop throwing around white supremacists accusations just because you don’t like someone. Aren’t you assuming alot?

      • Steveo

        October 27, 2018 at 5:18 pm

        How come you guys cannot debate with an alternative solution or facts like the facts in that last comment. Instead, you just resort to name calling. Sad, your cattle and you dont even know it. Mooooo

Comments are closed.


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