Homophobic Facebook post under investigation

A homophobic Facebook post that appeared under the profile of a Broward Sheriff’s Office captain is under investigation, the Sheriff ’s Office said. On May 5, Sheriff Scott Israel received an award from the Plantation Democratic Club. A protest of the event was broadcast on Facebook Live. The homophobic comment addressed the host of that broadcast, Gilbert Montalvo, who runs the Facebook page Citizens Over Politics — COPS.

Montalvo, 55, of Wilton Manors, is openly gay; he serves as vice president of the LGBTQ political group Log Cabin Republicans of Broward County. But he says his orientation was not for that poster to reveal.

Under the name “Ira Goldberg,” the poster wrote: “Gilbert, it’s truly sad that you have to hire people to come help you protest. I hope you offered them money instead of sexual favors. Those men deserve better.”

Capt. Ira Goldberg could not be reached for comment Friday, or to confirm that he wrote the posts. Goldberg remains on active duty. A statement from the Sheriff ’s Office spokeswoman said the posts were under investigation, but not specifically Goldberg.

“Once the sheriff was made aware of the post, he immediately directed Internal Affairs to investigate,” spokeswoman Keyla Concepción wrote in an email. “All BSO employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and without bias to race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, culture or socioeconomic status.”

Sheriff Israel denied Montalvo’s allegations Friday.

Montalvo said he asked for the comments to be taken down, but said “Ira Goldberg” doubled down.

“I won’t be deleting anything. I stand by what I said,” said the poster, writing under the “Ira Goldberg” profile.

Montalvo said the post came down Thursday, but he’s been posting the screenshots.

“It took four days to take it down,” Montalvo said. “To say, ‘I’m standing behind it,’ when he’s implying that I’m a prostitute … he should be fired.”

Montalvo, also a member of the Broward Republican Executive Committee, said he campaigned against Israel in the last election and that cost him a seat on the executive committee of the Broward Crime Stoppers.

GILBERT MONTALVO/COURTESY A homophobic Facebook post that appeared under the profile of a Broward Sheriff ’s Office captain is under investigation, the Sheriff ’s Office said.