BSO was one of the United States' largest fully-accredited sheriff's offices before losing accreditation (by unanimous vote) in 2019.

[citation needed] The BSO's Department of Law Enforcement covers areas including the Broward County Courthouse, the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, areas of the Everglades and the county's waterways, unincorporated Broward, and 13 cities and towns that contracted for BSO law enforcement services.

Up to 2,600 people were convicted and sometimes given longer sentences because BSO sold the drugs near schools, before the state supreme court ruled that "law enforcement officers' conduct in illegally manufacturing crack cocaine is so outrageous that it violates the due process clause."

[11][12] Following a deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February 2018, the Broward County Sheriff's Office was criticized by some for its response.

[20] A commission appointed by then-Governor Rick Scott to investigate the shooting condemned the police inaction, and urged school districts across the state to adopt greater measures of security.

Israel described the no confidence vote as a "political stunt" intended to help the union in salary bargaining with the department, at that time underway.

[27] On January 11, 2019, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, three days after his inauguration, announced that he had signed an executive order suspending Sheriff Scott Israel because of his department's handling of the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

[30][failed verification] On January 11, 2019, days after Florida Governor DeSantis took office, he appointed Gregory Tony the Sheriff of Broward County.

Israel, Al Pollock, Willie Jones, Andrew Maurice Smalling, and Santiago Vazquez also competed in the election.

[38] Tony fired deputies Brian Miller, Edward Eason, and Joshua Stambaugh for neglect of duty during the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

Tony referred to Bell as a "rogue employee", who, although a deputy, works full time for the union and "hasn't worn a uniform in years".

[40] On April 10, Tony suspended Jeff Bell indefinitely with pay, "saying he made false statements, has corrupt practices, has exhibited conduct that is unbecoming and has not used proper discretion", and started an Internal Affairs case.

[47] Broward County Sheriff's Office works in partnership with Women in Distress (WID) to prevent domestic violence.

[48] WID is a nationally accredited, state-certified, full service domestic violence center in Broward County that provides victims of domestic violence with safe shelter, crisis intervention and resources, and to educate the community in order to Stop Abuse For Everyone (SAFE) through intervention, education and advocacy.

In 1973 Broward County EMS began providing ALS paramedic service from the parking lot of Plantation General Hospital.