Lisa Huriash
Sun Sentinel
TAMARAC, Fla. — A Broward County, Fla. sheriff’s deputy who was expecting to be honored as “Officer of the Month” during a ceremony earlier last week was unexpectedly met with criticism when he got up to receive his award.
Deputy Joshua Gallardo was headed back to his seat after retrieving his award when he was called back to the front of the audience by city Commissioner Elberg “Mike” Gelin.
“It’s good to see you again,” Gelin told an unsuspecting Gallardo. “You probably don’t remember me, but you’re the police officer who falsely arrested me four years ago. You lied on the police report. I believe you’re a rogue police officer, and you’re a bad police officer, and you don’t deserve to be here.”
The deputy nodded, smiled and gave him the thumbs up before walking away.
The arrest happened long before Gelin was a public official. Gelin was charged with resisting arrest/obstruction without violence, but prosecutors dropped the case.
Tarmac Mayor Michelle Gomez unleashed a few jabs of her own when referencing Gelin’s conduct. Gomez said the ceremony “was supposed to be an all-smiles day” and that she thought maybe Gelin “had something nice to say” when he took the microphone.
She added that she was “embarrassed” and “shocked.”
“Nobody expected this,” Gomez said.
Gallardo was April’s deputy of the month. He was honored for pulling over a man and discovering he was wanted by Interpol for murder in El Salvadorl.