FLPD faces claims of hostile work environment for Black and Hispanic officers amid calls for independent probe
By Rubén Rosario
Published on April 21, 2026.
A group of Fort Lauderdale Police officers and a civil rights organization are alleging a hostile work environment in the department, specifically for Black and Hispanic officers. The allegations stem from Officer Steven Poherence, who was seen shoving a Black Lives Matter demonstrator during a protest and was acquitted by a jury. The officers claim that the department failed to act upon Poherence's allegations and have called for an independent investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
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