Scott Israel suspended by Florida governor over Parkland shooting

Sheriff Scott Israel was suspended yesterday by the governor of Florida his, his agency’s, and his deputies’ handling of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. The governor cited both the school shooting and an earlier shooting at the Fort Lauderdale airport as demonstrating a repeated and continuing incompetence on Israel’s part, as well as deputies under his command.

Part of governor’s statement.

Additionally, the commission charged with investigating the shooting released an initial report early this year. In their report they cite several issues:

- Israel changed agency policy from “deputies shall engage active shooters” to “deputies may engage active shooters.” Israel claims that the change was made because he didn’t “want to send deputies on a suicide mission.” Coral Springs, the other agency that responded, has a “shall engage” policy, which is why their officers immediately made entry on arrival, even as BCSO deputies continued to run around outside being completely useless and ineffective.

- the commission lays a failure of command at the first sergeant to arrive on scene, citing no command and coordination

- the commission does the same with the first captain on scene

- the commission found numerous physical barriers either unsecured or unmanned

- the commission lays blame on the SRO, stating that rather than attempt to locate the shooter the deputy not only retreated to a position of personal safety but also was found to have repeatedly warned other LE personnel to stay away from the building.

Those are just a few of the highlights. It’s over 400 pages long.

Commission report.

a reply to: Shamrock6

At the end of the first link, you shared it states this:

Several responding Broward sheriff's deputies were either seen on camera or described as taking time to retrieve and put on ballistic vests as well as removing and replacing other equipment while shots were still being fired in the school, the report said.


Wow just wow !!

a reply to: Tarzan the apeman.

That’s the difference between “may engage” and “shall engage.”

The whole point of the response is to interdict the shooter. Whether that takes the form of direct engagement, forcing the shooter to flee, forcing the shooter to barricade, whatever, but the objective is to get them to stop attacking people that are defenseless. First units there are supposed to be the first units in the door and then get replaced by additional units who are better equipped if need be.

This incident provides a stark example of the mindset that one word can create.

a reply to: Shamrock6

It's about damn time!

I won't make excuses for the deputies, and Peterson in particular, but the rot starts at the top. This -- and so much more -- happened on Israel's watch, and he needed to go.