 On March 10, 2009, voters elected Bruce Roberts as Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner representing District I.
As City Commissioner, Bruce Roberts is continuing a long and distinguished career of serving the citizens of Fort Lauderdale and working to enhance, improve and strengthen the community.
Commissioner Roberts may be reached at 954-828-5004 or via e-mail at BRoberts@fortlauderdale.gov.
Newsletters
Read Commissioner Robert's newsletters:
Biographical Information
Commissioner Roberts’ commitment to public service dates back to 1973, when he began his law enforcement career as a police officer with the City of Fort Lauderdale Police Department. During the ensuing 35 years, Commissioner Roberts worked his way through the ranks, serving as a patrol officer and detective. In 2001, Roberts was appointed Chief of Police, where he served until May 2008.
Commissioner Roberts is deeply rooted in the community, having grown up in the area he now represents. He and his three brothers graduated from Cardinal Gibbons High School. Commissioner Roberts has been married to his wife, Scharlene, since 1979, and they have resided in their current home in Imperial Point since 1992. The Roberts’ two children are also graduates of Cardinal Gibbons High School.
Commissioner Roberts holds a bachelor's degree in Public Administration Criminal Justice from St. Thomas University. He has dedicated his time and energy to numerous professional and civic organizations, including the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, Advisory Board of the Broward County Crime Commission, Broward County Commission on Substance Abuse and the Broward Workshop Criminal Justice Committee.
Commissioner Roberts takes pride in the fact that under his leadership as Police Chief:
- Fort Lauderdale enjoyed the two lowest crime rates in the history of the City since 1974.
- The department dissolved a consent decree from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division specific to diversity hiring and promotion.
- The department earned reaccreditation twice by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.
These accomplishments required that Commissioner Roberts utilize his working knowledge of other City departments and his relationships with other department directors and agencies. Other successful examples of this cooperative approach include coordinating services for such major events as the Air & Sea Show, the International Boat Show and the Organization of American States Conference. These services are drawn from multiple departments including Police, Fire-Rescue, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, the City Attorney, Budget Office and Procurement. In addition, the recognition for achieving a diverse Police Department could not have been accomplished without meshing the department’s hiring plan with resources from the Human Resources Department and the City Attorney’s Office.
As the elected representative of District I, the top five issues Commissioner Roberts will champion for the citizens of Fort Lauderdale are:
- Citizen participation in government decisions
- Effective and efficient public safety, including reducing crime again
- Collegial leadership on the City Commission
- Balanced development that will protect our neighborhoods and green space
- Establishing a vision for the future and a budget for those priorities
|
