Sunrise Deputy Mayor Faces Ethics Complaint Over Traffic Stop
Broward Inspector General says Jacqueline Guzman misused her position during a November 2024 stop, and the complaint has been referred to the Florida Commission on Ethics.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Corruption
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Broward Office of the Inspector General filed a complaint finding that Sunrise Deputy Mayor Jacqueline Guzman misused her position during a traffic stop on November 10, 2024. The complaint was referred to the Florida Commission on Ethics, and no criminal violation was alleged.
Why it matters
The complaint concerns whether a senior Sunrise official used her position to seek special treatment from the police chief after being told her license was invalid. It tests how Florida and Sunrise ethics codes apply to local officials' contact with law enforcement leadership.
The Broward Inspector General's Office identified the incident as a violation of the Florida and Sunrise Codes of Ethics and referred the complaint to the Florida Commission on Ethics. No criminal violation was alleged, and the commission has not yet ruled on the matter.
The players
Jacqueline Guzman
Sunrise Deputy Mayor who is the subject of the ethics complaint over the traffic stop.
Daniel Ransone
Sunrise Police Chief whose personal cellphone Guzman called during the stop.
Florida Commission on Ethics
State body to which the Broward Inspector General referred the complaint for review.
The details
During the stop, Guzman allegedly called the personal cellphone of Sunrise Police Chief Daniel Ransone and texted him several times, writing in all capital letters, 'I need my license.' Ransone did not intervene, and Guzman told investigators she contacted him to document the stop rather than to ask for intervention.
Timeline
November 10, 2024: Guzman was stopped and told her license was no longer valid.
November 14, 2026: The Inspector General's complaint was reported and referred to the ethics commission.
Legal Context
Complaints like this one fall under Florida's Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees, which the Florida Commission on Ethics enforces against local officials who allegedly misuse their positions. Referrals from county inspectors general to the commission are a standard path for such matters.
Residents of Sunrise can see how local officials are held to conduct standards when they interact with police during personal matters. The outcome of the Florida Commission on Ethics review will determine whether any formal sanction applies to the deputy mayor.
The takeaway
Public officials are expected to keep personal matters separate from the authority of their office, and ethics reviews examine whether that line was crossed. Readers can follow the Florida Commission on Ethics for its eventual findings.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Corruption in Sunrise news.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sun Sentinel.
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