Nick Navarro
Encyclopedia
Nicholas G. "Nick" Navarro (November 11, 1929 – September 28, 2011) was a Cuban-American businessman. He served as sheriff
of Broward County, Florida
, from 1985-92.
Navarro was born in Jaruco, Cuba, in 1929. He won election for sheriff in 1984. During Navarro's tenure the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) approximately doubled to 3,000 personnel and its budget increased from $75 million to $200 million. Contracts were added for the BSO to provide law enforcement services to three Broward cities – Dania Beach
, Tamarac
and Deerfield Beach
.
crews to ride along
with BSO deputies for several months, taping the material which would become the inaugural season of the television show COPS
. The entire first season of COPS (except for a season finale special filmed in the Soviet Union) took place in Broward County. In subsequent seasons, the show would go on to profile numerous police departments throughout the US and several other countries.
ordered state prosecutors to determine whether Miami-area rappers 2 Live Crew
's album As Nasty As They Wanna Be
violated Florida obscenity laws. As a result, Navarro arrested local record store owners for selling the album and members of the group were arrested after a concert. All arrested parties were eventually acquitted. The judge who heard the case reprimanded the sheriff for "the unconstitutional act of prior restraint" because his detectives warned record owners that they might be arrested if they sold the rap album, even though it had not yet been found legally obscene. On Banned in the USA
, their follow-up album, 2 Live Crew
included a song entitled "Fuck Martinez", which also includes multiple repetitions of the phrase "fuck Navarro". The group found two other men with the same names, and had them sign releases, as they thought that this action would make it impossible for Martinez, or Navarro, to sue them.
Navarro lost the position of sheriff after being defeated in the 1992 Republican
primary and was replaced by Ron Cochran
.
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Broward County, Florida
Broward County, Florida
-2000 Census:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,623,018 people, 654,445 households, and 411,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,346 people per square mile . There were 741,043 housing units at an average density of 615 per square mile...
, from 1985-92.
Navarro was born in Jaruco, Cuba, in 1929. He won election for sheriff in 1984. During Navarro's tenure the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) approximately doubled to 3,000 personnel and its budget increased from $75 million to $200 million. Contracts were added for the BSO to provide law enforcement services to three Broward cities – Dania Beach
Dania Beach, Florida
Dania Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 29,639. It is part of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010 census. Dania Beach is the location of one of the largest jai alai frontons in...
, Tamarac
Tamarac, Florida
Tamarac is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,427. It is part of the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010 census....
and Deerfield Beach
Deerfield Beach, Florida
Deerfield Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, USA. The city is named for the numerous deer that once roamed the area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 75,018...
.
COPS
In 1989, Navarro allowed Fox TelevisionFox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
crews to ride along
Ride-along
A ride-along is an arrangement for a civilian to spend a shift in the passenger seat of a police car, observing the work day of a police officer, Firefighter, or Paramedic....
with BSO deputies for several months, taping the material which would become the inaugural season of the television show COPS
COPS (TV series)
Cops is an American documentary/reality television series that follows police officers, constables, and sheriff's deputies during patrols and other police activities...
. The entire first season of COPS (except for a season finale special filmed in the Soviet Union) took place in Broward County. In subsequent seasons, the show would go on to profile numerous police departments throughout the US and several other countries.
Struggles and controversy
In 1989, Florida Governor Bob MartinezBob Martinez
Robert Martinez was the 40th Governor of Florida from 1987 to 1991. Prior to that, he was the mayor of Tampa from 1979 to 1986.- Education and early career :...
ordered state prosecutors to determine whether Miami-area rappers 2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew was a hip hop group from Miami, Florida. They caused considerable controversy with the sexual themes in their work, particularly on their 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be.- Early career :...
's album As Nasty As They Wanna Be
As Nasty As They Wanna Be
As Nasty As They Wanna Be is the third album by Miami rap group 2 Live Crew. It was released in 1989, and became their largest seller, going 2x Platinum. In 1990, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida ruled that the album was legally obscene; this ruling was later...
violated Florida obscenity laws. As a result, Navarro arrested local record store owners for selling the album and members of the group were arrested after a concert. All arrested parties were eventually acquitted. The judge who heard the case reprimanded the sheriff for "the unconstitutional act of prior restraint" because his detectives warned record owners that they might be arrested if they sold the rap album, even though it had not yet been found legally obscene. On Banned in the USA
Banned in the USA
Banned in the U.S.A. is the fourth album by 2 Live Crew. It was originally credited as Luke's solo album. The album included the hits "Do The Bart" and the title track....
, their follow-up album, 2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew was a hip hop group from Miami, Florida. They caused considerable controversy with the sexual themes in their work, particularly on their 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be.- Early career :...
included a song entitled "Fuck Martinez", which also includes multiple repetitions of the phrase "fuck Navarro". The group found two other men with the same names, and had them sign releases, as they thought that this action would make it impossible for Martinez, or Navarro, to sue them.
Navarro lost the position of sheriff after being defeated in the 1992 Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
primary and was replaced by Ron Cochran
Ron Cochran
Ron Cochran was a television news journalist for ABC and CBS. He served as the anchor of the ABC Evening News from 1962 to 1965. In November 1963, he served as the network's principal anchor for the around-the-clock coverage of the Kennedy assassination...
.