Usually the only parting gift suspects arrested by Broward cops get are a pair of handcuffs and a fancy head shot.
But some criminals have been paid cold hard cash by television producers for allowing their faces to be shown on a reality show based in Broward, a public defender alleged.
People on TLC's "Police Women of Broward County" have been paid as much as $500 for their "appearance," enough to post bond and get out of jail, the Sun-Sentinel reports.
The allegation was brought to Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti by Chief Assistant Public Defender Gordon Weekes Jr., who claims one of his clients was paid to sign a waiver to allow his face to be broadcast.
Lamberti said he talked to the show's producers on Monday and told them to stop with the arrest payments, but with most of this season's shows already shot, the gesture could be considered pretty empty.
Producers told Lamberti they may have paid a few defendants $200, but not $500 in bail money.
It's the second controversial incident involving the second season of the reality cop drama.
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Police Women of Broward County gives viewers a look into the lives of five female law enforcement officers, from the moment they put on the uniform to when they take it off to deal with their personal drama.
In February, a man believed to be watching a suspect being arrested for the show was hit by a car while crossing the street.
Most of the footage is of the women kicking butt and taking names later, but Weekes wonders if the show is pushing the legal limits.
This is not giving insight into police work," he said. "It's giving a sensationalized, overdramatized depiction of women put in a position where they're glamorized."
