Fort Lauderdale City Manager Chris Lagerbloom announced today that the city's police chief, Rick Maglione, will be reassigned to a new role.
After consulting with elected leaders who were in support of the change, Lagerblom has decided to begin the search for the next police chief.
As for now, Assistant Chief Karen Dietrich will take over as interim chief. Dietrich is a 30-year law enforcement veteran.
Dietrich said the department has a lot of work to do and will be meeting with the unions and community members to make changes.
"We're going to bring in some unconventional methods, we're going to look at a lot of our processes and we're going to make some changes," she said. "My door is always open."
In a press conference Fort Lauderdale mayor Dean Trantalis thanked Maglione for the work he had done with the force, but said this is a time where the department needs a fresh start.
"This is a point in time in which we need a fresh approach and a fresh set of eyes as to how we approach critical issues," he said. "Particularly surrounding the issues of race and law enforcement."
The department recently has come under criticism for officers' tactics during racial injustice protests, including a video showing officers laughing while firing rubber bullets into a crowd.
Maglione will be staying on the force but in a different position.
