The BSO also is paying Panza's firm as a liaison to supply information sought by the state attorney's office for its investigation.

INFORMATION REMOVED

The Herald requested the Panza law firm's invoices for its internal audit of BSO cases. The agency provided a breakdown of fees for October through February, which totaled $445,760.

But the BSO's legal department removed detailed information on Panza's invoices - citing public-records exemptions and attorney-client privilege - making it impossible to determine what his firm did to earn the money.

Panza said he sees no conflict of interest in his legal representation of Jenne's agency. He questioned why The Herald and other media focus on the pair's relationship after publishing stories and editorials on the BSO's need to fix systemic flaws.

"Yes, I'm friends with him. Yes, I was in the Army with him 30 years go. And yes, I've contributed to his campaigns, " Panza said. "I don't feel I'm any different from any other person who has done work for the government. I can make an honest call."

Panza took umbrage at the UM professor's criticism, saying he has "multiple assignments" for Jenne's agency: "I'm not interested in what a professor says at a UM ethics center. I have one client, the sheriff. There's no conflict of interest."

Panza said he won't release his report - including proposed reforms and disciplinary action - until the state attorney's office concludes its investigation. By that measure, the public will probably have to wait months for the results.

The state attorney's office launched its investigation into the BSO's alleged manipulation of crime statistics in October 2003. So far, three deputies have been charged.

Last year, the Broward County police union asked Satz to end the investigation and called on the governor to appoint an independent prosecutor because of what the union called conflicts of interest between the state attorney and the Broward sheriff. "I do not see how any fair-minded individual in your position, due to the broad scope of this investigation, would have any other choice, " Dick Brickman, president of the Police Benevolent Association, wrote to Satz on Sept. 9.

At that time, the state attorney's office said it did not see the need for an independent prosecutor.

CONFLICT NOT SEEN

"Investigating such allegations is one of a state attorney's responsibilities, " said Satz's spokesman, Ron Ishoy, in an e-mail to The Herald last year. "We did not see a conflict when this began and we do not see one now."

On Thursday, Ishoy stated in an e-mail to The Herald: "We stand by that statement. Nothing has changed."