Sources high in the Broward Sheriff’s Office chain of command say a claim by businessman Jeff Lefcourt that he and others privately paid for a BSO helicopter did not happen, Local 10 News reported Thursday.
Lefcourt made the claim on body camera video from a call last September, when Broward deputies responded to a false alarm at a classic car collection he owns. In the footage, he describes being a close friend of Sheriff Gregory Tony and says about 20 people chipped in to buy a $5 million helicopter that the sheriff wanted.
The county commission had already allocated $15 million for a replacement helicopter after a fatal BSO chopper crash in the summer of 2023. Documents show the sheriff later ordered three helicopters and asked the commission to cover those costs. No public records show private money going toward a helicopter the county had already funded.
The claim comes as the county and the sheriff are in a public dispute over spending. Tony wants a bigger budget, and commissioners want a more detailed accounting of the roughly $870 million the agency receives. Tony has not explained why he has not provided that detail.
Lefcourt did not return Local 10 News’ calls seeking comment.
