Major Jason Rotella

Dept. of Preparedness and Response

Special Operations Bureau

Major Jason Rotella began his law enforcement career in 1998 as a patrol officer with the City of Pompano Beach Police Department. In August 1999, following the merger with the City of Pompano Beach Police Department, he joined the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) as a patrol deputy.

In October 2000, Major Rotella began his assignment with the agency's SWAT team, where he served for 24 years, holding roles including operator, sniper, master breacher, team leader and executive officer. In November 2019, he was promoted to Captain of the Tactical Operations Division and appointed SWAT Commander, a position he held until his promotion to Major in February 2025. Throughout his SWAT career, Major Rotella participated in over 1,800 high-risk tactical operations.

Major Rotella has received several prestigious awards, including the Gold Cross, SWAT Operator of the Year and two Broward Sheriff's Advisory Council Valor Awards. His contributions include creating the agency's energetic breaching program and establishing similar programs across the state of Florida. As SWAT Commander, he founded the Broward SWAT Commanders Association, uniting 14 federal, state and local tactical command leaders to enhance inter-agency coordination during critical incidents. His most meaningful achievement was the development of the nation's first SWAT-based mental health resiliency training program, designed to support the well-being of active SWAT team members.

Beyond SWAT, Major Rotella has served in various specialized roles, including Crime Suppression Detective, Fugitive Detective, Gun Squad Detective, United States Marshals Task Force Officer, Patrol Sergeant, Crime Suppression Team Sergeant and VIPER Sergeant.

He is a member of the National Tactical Officers Association, the Broward County Chiefs of Police Association and is the co-chair of the Regional Domestic Security Task Force. Major Rotella is completing his Bachelor of Science in Criminology at Florida State University and holds multiple professional certifications.