The FBI’s Deadly Mistake: Bungling a Hotline Tip-Off
The staff at the FBI completely failed. Armed with a specific tip from someone close to the alleged Florida shooter, Nikolas Cruz, the agency’s public tip line failed to inform the Miami field office (“‘FBI blew this big time,’ ” Feb. 17).
We can add that to its failure to perform due diligence after someone reported a suspicious comment from an account linked to Cruz.
Cruz should have been stopped, but that would have required the FBI to do its job. I wonder what it was busy doing instead. Robert Stiskin Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Fla.
While Florida Gov. Rick Scott is requesting the removal of FBI Director Christopher Wray, I’m stunned he’s also not demanding the resignation of Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel.
All reports indicate that Israel’s department sent officers to the home of the killer up to 39 times in the past seven years to investigate potentially serious issues, including violence against his mother.
After so many visits, no red flags were raised by local law-enforcement at all. The sheriff should be ousted, as well. Peter Incardone Long Beach, NJ
This is not your mother’s FBI. This is the same government agency that was warned about the Boston Marathon bombers by the Russians, interviewed the eldest Tsarnaev brother and then let him go.
In the case of the Florida shooting, the FBI did not even bother to interview the perpetrator.
So much for “if you see something, say something.” Heads need to roll. Alexandra Brito Manhattan
Wray should resign after his bureau botched the investigation of the school shooter in Florida. It’s misfeasance of the highest order.
Will only underlings be made into scapegoats, while the higher-ups are protected? It’s no wonder that no one has respect for the law anymore. Michael Perillo Yonkers
Five weeks prior to the Florida school shooting, the FBI received a detailed tip to look into the killer’s behavior.
The FBI admitted the information was not dealt with properly and forwarded to the Miami office of the FBI.
The FBI admitted that it screwed up this time, but maybe it screwed up a lot over the past year.
It should immediately assign people to check the records because another tragedy may still be avoided if an old message that was not followed up on should raise some red flags. David Lipton Toms River
It is apparent that the FBI mishandled the tips on Cruz. But don’t local police bear a good deal of the responsibility?
The federal govern- ment and its agencies don’t have the responsibility of firearms licensing. They don’t respond to local issues. That is the purview of state and local governments.
Perhaps Gov. Scott should take his own suggestion to Wray and resign. Steven Medelsohn Whitestone
The FBI’s paltry response to warning signs about the Florida school shooter is not surprising. The FBI, like many other government agencies, has gone soft. It is guided by political expedience and correctness rather than fulfilling its true mission.
President Trump knows only too well about the swamp in Washington and is fighting every ensconced politician, Republicans included, to get these onceproud and respected institutions back on track. Robert Lobenstein Brooklyn
It has become obvious that the government can’t or won’t step in to address the ease with which guns can be bought.
The FBI has proved that its efforts with hotlines do not work. So why not make all classroom doors bulletproof, so that they can be locked to provide a safe space?
The American people need to start thinking about solutions because this gun violence has to stop. Matthew Miller Sag Harbor
It would appear that the Federal Bureau of Investigation should be changed to Federal Bureau of Incompetence. Joe Mercer Memphis, Tenn.