Nick Navarro
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Nick Navarro served as the sheriff of Broward County, Florida from 1984 through 1992. Navarro oversaw a period during which Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) grew both in size and in prominence as a local institution. While Navarro was sheriff, the BSO's staff doubled to 3,000 and its budget eclipsed $200 million. Further, Navarro was instrumental in winning contracts for the BSO to provide law enforcement services to three Broward cities - Dania Beach, Tamarac and Deerfield Beach. By establishing that the BSO could provide an alternative to indigenous police forces in midsize cities, Navarro did much to create a foundation for the BSO's continued relevace; the state legislature has since required that the unincorporated areas to which the BSO had traditionally provided police services be incorporated into cities.
As sheriff, Navarro courted public attention and often attracted controversy. The television show COPS was first filmed in his jurisdiction, with his approval and support. Navarro also admitted that he ordered the BSO to manufacture crack cocaine to be used in sting operations. Sheriff Navarro also attracted controversy when he arrested local record store owners on obscenity charges when they sold albums by rap group 2 Live Crew. The group later included lyrics insulting Navarro on their song Fuck Martinez.
Navarro lost his position as sheriff under suspect circumstances. He was defeated in the 1992 Republican primary just days after Hurricane Andrew. Turnout was extremely low, which many pundits attributed to the storm.
Navarro owns Navarro Security Group, which is currently being investigated by the Broward Sheriff's Office because of a break in to company Reagan Wireless. Reports say that Navarro security officers were "sleeping" on the job while a theft, estimated above $1 million dollars, was going on.
