By Joanne Clark
Col. Nichole Anderson, who made history in 2019 as the first African American woman to serve as undersheriff at the Broward Sheriff’s Office, is no longer second in command following a leadership shake-up announced by Sheriff Gregory Tony.
Anderson, a 30-year law enforcement veteran, had been appointed to the No. 2 post in 2019 in what Tony at the time described as an “unprecedented” decision for the agency and Broward County.
During a promotional ceremony on Thursday in Davie, Tony reflected on the significance of the undersheriff role.
“The undersheriff rank is the senior ranking promotion that one could aspire, the next level perhaps would be to earn an election from the people of this community,” Tony said. “The undersheriff position affords a tremendous amount of responsibility and burden as he is in this new role.”
Tony’s reference to “he” signaled a change in leadership. Since 2019, Anderson had served as the agency’s second in command.
At the time of her appointment, Anderson said, “I am a proud member of the Broward Sheriff’s Office and a lifelong resident of Broward County.”
Tony announced her promotion in 2019, stating: “Today is another unprecedented day in the history of Broward County and the history of this agency — the counsel I was provided and the recommendation that came from command staff was the decision I was going to make and the new undersheriff of this agency will be Col. Nicole Anderson.”
Anderson was hired by BSO on Sept. 16, 1996. This September would have marked 30 years with the agency.
The leadership change comes as the sheriff navigates renewed contract negotiations with the City of Pompano Beach over whether it will remain under BSO’s policing services or establish its own municipal police department.
Last fall, Pompano Beach commissioned a study to compare costs after the sheriff submitted a 2026 contract proposal that would increase the city’s expenses by more than $6 million, according to city officials. The city is currently operating under a one-year contract extension with BSO.
The situation mirrors past disputes. Increased costs and contentious negotiations previously led Deerfield Beach to withdraw from BSO and create its own police department.