DEERFIELD BEACH, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Deerfield Beach has named two transitional public safety chiefs as the city moves toward creating independent police and fire rescue departments.
The city announced that Daniel Morgalo has been selected as transitional police chief and Chantal Botting has been selected as transitional fire chief. City officials said the appointments are part of Deerfield Beach’s work to establish its own police and fire rescue operations.
Morgalo and Botting bring more than 50 years of combined South Florida public safety experience, according to the City of Deerfield Beach.
Botting comes to Deerfield Beach after a 25-year career with Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue. The city described her as a leader known for her focus on “Communicating in Today’s Fire Service” and said she has emphasized empathy and personal interaction in public safety leadership.
Morgalo has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, most recently serving as assistant chief of operations for the Miami Beach Police Department. The city described him as a specialized expert in regional preparedness and strategic operations.
“Securing the right leadership is paramount as we build the foundation for our independent departments,” Mayor Todd Drosky said in the city’s announcement. “We are confident their guidance will ensure a seamless transition and a high standard of protection for our residents.”
The appointments come as Deerfield Beach prepares for a major shift in how public safety services are managed locally. The city’s announcement framed the hires as transitional leadership positions, with both chiefs expected to help guide Deerfield Beach through the process of building independent police and fire rescue departments.
Reaction to the announcement was mixed in public comments attached to the city’s post. Several commenters welcomed the appointments and congratulated the incoming chiefs, with comments such as “Looking forward to the new leadership! Welcome to DFB!” and “Great choices. They are going to do great things for Deerfield.” Others raised concerns about the cost and long-term financial impact of the city’s move toward independent departments. One commenter wrote that the city would need to keep firefighter/paramedic pay “at the top level of surrounding communities” or risk becoming “another training department.” Another called the transition potentially “the biggest financial blunder in DFB history,” pointing to concerns over affordability.
The city did not include a start date in the announcement provided to Boca Post. It also did not provide additional details in the announcement about the timeline for launching the independent departments, staffing levels, labor costs or how the transition will affect current public safety service arrangements.
For now, the city is presenting the appointments as the next step in building out local control of police and fire rescue services. The public reaction shows support for the two leaders themselves, but also continued concern from some residents over the broader policy decision and the cost of carrying it out.
Readers can follow all local updates in our Deerfield Beach News section.
