Davie police chief replaced after allegedly saying BSO deputy died of virus because he was gay
The former police chief of Davie has been given his old job back after Chief Dale Engle was put on leave after allegedly saying Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy Shannon Bennett died of COVID-19 because of his “homosexual” lifestyle.
On Thursday, Town Administrator Richard Lemack appointed former Davie Police Chief Patrick Lynn as acting chief. Lynn served as Davie’s police chief for about 10 years before he retired in 2017, according to a Davie press release.
“Chief Lynn will assume this temporary role while allegations brought forward by the Fraternal Order of Police against current Police Chief, Dale Engle, are being investigated,” the release said.
During a patrol briefing on April 7, Engle said Deputy Bennett contracted and died from the virus because he was a “homosexual who attended homosexual sexual events,” according to a letter sent to Lemack from the Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council Committee.
The remarks allegedly came four days after Bennett, a 12-year veteran at the sheriff’s office, died of COVID-19. Bennett, 39, was a member of the LGBTQ community. He contracted the virus while “in the line of duty,” BSO Sheriff Gregory Tony said.
Engle was placed on administrative leave Saturday evening.
Acting Chief Lynn has more than 35 years of service in public safety and local government, the town said. Lemack said Lynn has “the institutional knowledge of the agency, the community, along with the requisite leadership skills to provide interim guidance and support.”
The town said, “Chief Lynn was instrumental in restructuring the agency to receive accreditation with the Commission of Florida Accreditation, increased staffing, enhanced specialized units and introduced advanced police gun range as well as progressive training for his staff.”
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