Carey Codd Broward County

Hundreds of Broward Sheriff's Office employees invaded Pompano Beach this afternoon. It is a huge turnout for the city's Commission Meeting.

The commission will hear from City Manager Dennis Beach regarding his proposal to get rid of BSO services in the city and create the city's own police force. In a memo Beach said the move would save Pompano several million dollars per year.

City officials are saying little about the idea -- referring reporters to the city's website mypompanobeach.org.

BSO is saying lots. The agency sent out an email earlier today with talking points against the move.

They say if Pompano does away with the BSO contract 319 employees including 240 deputies will lose their jobs.

BSO also says paying for a new police force would likely result in increased taxes. They also say crime would likely go up in the city. Standard tactics in a situation like this.

I spoke to a couple of Pompano residents and business owners about they issue. All of them told me they prefer keeping BSO because of good response times, a drop in the crime rate and all the services BSO offers like the SWAT team and the Marine Patrol.

I'll be at the meeting throughout the evening and will update the blog. You can also watch for my reports on CBS 4 News at 10 on My33 and on CBS4 at 11.

The auction of Ponzi swindler Scott Rothstein's items brought in $152,000 for victims.

The item that brought in the most cash-- a Jaeger LeCoultre Atmos Swiss clock -- sold for $7,500. The buyer is a person whose name some will recognize -- Muhammad Sohail. It appears that Sohail is the guy who was involved in a car accident that raised questions about Rothstein's relationship with Ft. Lauderdale Police Chief Frank Adderley.

Sohail also bought a reclining massage chair for $3,200 and numerous other items at the auction last month.

Other interesting/expensive items that sold:

Jacob & Co. desk clock sold for $5,500

3-D Poster of Yankee Stadium with Swarovski crystals sold for $3,500

David Oscarson Roller Ball pen sold for $3,000

72-inch Sony Plasma TV sold for $2,500

Framed photo of Rothstein and Governor Charlie Crist sold for $2,100

All the items up for auction sold for $177,000 but the trustee paid the auctioneer $25,000 for expenses.

Former Scott Rothstein law partner Russ Adler is being told to pay back more than $1.2 million dollars he received from the Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler (RRA) law firm since 2007.

The bankruptcy trustee -- Herbert Stettin -- says Adler got paid more in salary than he should have -- roughly $580,000.

The trustee also says Adler received $655,000 in loans from RRA. Included in that money is $475,000 that the trustee says Adler and his wife Katie used to purchase an apartment in New York in August of 2009, just months before the Rothstein Ponzi scheme imploded.

The trustee writes in a complaint filed in federal court that at the same time the apartment deal went through, Rothstein gave Adler a $100,000 per year salary increase.

"The increase was not tied to merit, but as a means for Adler to personally acquire the Apartment for free and at RRA’s expense," the complaint reads.

The trustee also writes that Adler never repaid a dime of the money he borrowed back to RRA.

I covered a fire at a Pompano Beach condo on Thursday. When I arrived, Pompano Beach firefighters worked alongside Broward Sheriff's Officers.

BSO provides law enforcement service to the city.

But not for much longer, if the Pompano Beach City Manager has his way.

And it's a matter of dollars and cents.

And it's a matter the Broward County Police Benevolent Association is not happy about.

In fact, the PBA is organizing a door-to-door campaign in Pompano Beach starting tomorrow. More on that in a minute.

First, in a 5-page memo, Pompano Beach City Manager Dennis Beach estimates that re-establishing the Pompano Beach Police Department (BSO took over Pompano coverage in 1999) would save the city millions of dollars per year.

"With the fiscal challenges Pompano Beach will face with the distressed condition of the local, state and national economy, it is necessary that we take advantage of every opportunity to become more efficient," Beach wrote. "I believe this is one of those opportunities to become more efficient."

The city estimates savings in the first 5 years of $1.4 million per year. Startup equipment costs would eat into savings initially, Beach says. But in the next five years, Beach believes the city could save between $2.7 -$4 million per year.

To read Beach's memo CLICK HERE THEN CLICK ON "DELIVERY OF POLICE SERVICES MEMORANDUM"

Beach cites an issue I covered extensively a few months ago -- School Resource Officers -- as one of the reasons BSO's service to the city is declining. CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER STORY. Beach writes that Broward Commissioners continue to raise the costs of cities contracting with BSO for service. Beach believes that means BSO is forced to cut back on service and programs, like SRO's.

Make no mistake, if BSO loses the annual $36 million dollar Pompano Beach contract, it would be a big hit.

Pompano Beach City Commissioners will discuss the issue next Tuesday, February 9th.

Tomorrow, however, BSO deputies will walk the streets of Pompano to encourage residents to back BSO in this fight.

"About 10 years ago, the city of Lauderhill left the Sheriff's Office to form its' own police department and crime shot up dramatically as a result," Pat Hanrahan, President of the Broward County Police Benevolent Association, said. "(Pompano) will have to hire an entire police force all at once, which means they'll be trading more experienced officers for officers with only between one and five years of experience."

Hanrahan also warns residents that they will likely face a tax increase to cover the start-up costs. City Manager Beach does not address that in his memo but you can bet that will be discussed at Tuesday's meeting.

Both sides admit that BSO possesses a plethora of resources that Pompano Beach does not. However, the city manager believes the long-term savings for the city are worth the change.

We'll likely be covering the BSO effort to drum up support on Friday and the city commission meeting next Tuesday.

That is the name of the bill that you'll hear all about on Friday.

Public corruption you've heard lots about recently, especially in Broward County. The recent arrests of former Broward County commissioner Josephus Eggelletion, Broward School Board member Beverly Gallagher and Miramar Commissioner Fitzroy Salesman revealed, once again, the allegations of corruption that have run rampant throughout the county in the past few years.

The "Restoring Faith in Public Office Act" is being touted by Broward State Michael Satz, Palm Beach State Attorney Michael McAuliffe, State Senator Dan Gelber and State Representative Ari Porth. The quartet will hold a news conference on Friday.

According to the aforementioned, the bill strengthens the existing Official Misconduct statute. The new bill makes it illegal for a public official to fail to disclose a "direct or indirect financial interest, of the public servant or any member of his or her immediate family" in a matter "falling within the public servant's duties."

The bill says the public official would have to act "with corrupt intent," by failing to reveal that information.

In a statement, Satz said the new language closes a loophole.

"There have been cases in the past where prosecutors have felt that the behavior of a public official clearly was corrupt, but the existing law did not allow prosecution of that behavior," Satz said. "This bill changes that."

A violation of the new law would be a third-degree felony.

To read the bill, CLICK HERE THEN CLICK ON "ORIGINAL FILED VERSION"a>

After months of testing and years of worry, residents in the Acreage in western Palm Beach County received confirmation Monday of their worst fears. The Florida Department of Health determined there is an increased rate of brain cancers in the area.

In other words, there is a cancer cluster in the Acreage.

In fact, after studying the population estimates for the area, the DOH determined the number of brain cancer cases among female children is "significantly elevated."

The DOH said it found 3 cases of brain cancer from 2005-2007. Based on population estimates, there should have been zero or one case.

Investigators did not reveal if they know the suspected cause of the cancer. However, parents and residents might begin receiving some answers next week at a community forum in Loxahatchee on February 9 at 6: 30 pm. The meeting will be held at Seminole Ridge High School.

To see the coverage from the Palm Beach Post, CLICK HERE

I'm on vacation this week -- when I chose this week for vacation I didn't realize I would miss the Scott Rothstein circus in federal court.

However, I want to pass on a quick blog.

Attorney William Scherer, who represents a number of the Rothstein investors, is taking on another person allegedly linked to the Rothstein scandal -- Michael Szafranski.

According to state records, Szafranski owns a company called Onyx Options Consultant Corporation.

Scherer filed an affidavit in federal court Wednesday alleging that Szafranski was hired by a Rothstein investor to verify the authenticity of Rothstein's investments.

According to Scherer, however, Szafranski had a vested interest in Rothstein's investments because Szafranski was actually being paid $6.4 million dollars in a four month period last year by Rothstein.

Scherer alleges that "Michael Szafranski's breach of fiduciary duty and acceptance of almost six and a half million dollars of ill-gotten gains are specific examples of Szafranski's complicit role in this Ponzi scheme and evidence supporting his criminal and civil liability."

Most telling in the court file is an email Szafranski apparently sent to Scott Rothstein on October 30 of last year just as the Ponzi scheme was unraveling. In the purported email, Szafranski writes that one of the investors is demanding all of his money back. Szafranski allegedly wrote that if the bank balances are not laid out for him to see and reassure the investor, "we are all done."

According to Scherer, Szafranski held himself out as a duped investor in Rothstein's scheme. Scherer disputes that.

Another blog is reporting that Scherer said after Rothstein's plea hearing that he anticipates at least 20 more people will be arrested for their connections to the Rothstein scheme. We shall see.

The Broward County Commission is considering creating an Office of the Inspector General. The idea stems -- in part, at least -- from the arrest of former Broward Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion and former Broward School Board Member Beverly Gallagher on corruption charges last year.

The Inspector General would search for misconduct, fraud and abuse by elected county officials and county employees as well as companies doing business with the county.

If approved, the Inspector General would have authority over Broward Sheriff's Office, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, municipal elected officials, hospital districts and County boards and agencies. The Inspector General might also oversee the Broward County School Board and the Broward County Legislative Delegation.

The position would be modeled after the Miami-Dade Inspector General.

The County Attorney is writing a proposed charter amendment. Broward County voters would have to approve any change to the county charter.

The Broward State Attorney's Office decided not to file charges in the fatal fire that killed 3-year-old Aiden Bizier last March.

According to the closeout memo, the fire was a "horrific accident and one of misfortune, therefore excusable."

Investigators believe Aiden got a hold of one of his mother's lighters while she was sleeping, went into the garage and set the house on fire. Aiden could not get out because the garage was locked. Aiden's family put a latch on the door because Aiden had a history of getting out in the street through that door.

In one of the most gut-wrenching reports I've ever read, investigators wrote that they found Aiden "clutching a teddy bear under his left arm." One of the family's dogs was with him.

Aiden's mother admitted to police that she smoked pot the night before the fire but investigators determined that did not impair her from taking care of her son. Prosecutors also wrote that having a cigarette lighter in the home does not show "unlawful intent."

I went to the Sunrise neighborhood where the fire took place tonight. The house looks exactly the same as it did after the fire. It is abandoned.

The neighbors expressed surprise and dismay when they heard no charges were to be filed.

"A little boy died," neighbor Howard Pines said. "One would think somebody should be held accountable for it. Don't misunderstand me, I know that losing a child is a very sad thing to happen but somebody's got to be held responsible."

Having covered these types of cases in the past, I can tell you that prosecutors do weigh the suffering of the parent. They realize the parent of a child who dies in such a way will likely punish himself or herself in unimaginable ways.

We will air a story on CBS 4 News at Ten and CBS 4 News Tonight. To see the previous stories on this case, CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE

It must have been the music.

Last night, I told the story of the LaRoche sisters. They are three Haitian girls whose father -- a beloved doctor and teacher -- was killed by the earthquake. Two of the girls -- Alissa and Alexandra -- survived the quake and arrived in South Florida this week. They will live with family and attend Broward County Schools.

We learned through our story of the emphasis their father, Alix, placed on education and music in the lives of his daughters. They are smart, confident, expressive young women who were clearly raised in an environment of love and accomplishment.

Alexandra, 11, played the piano for us and we shared that in the news story.

A South Florida music teacher saw the story and was so moved she offered to donate piano lessons to the young ladies.

As soon as I speak with the music teacher I will post a few comments. For now, CLICK HERE to watch the story on the LaRoche sisters.