S. Florida sheriffs have not endorsed me, governor says
Gov. Rick Scott announced Monday that 55 out of the 67 sheriffs in Florida are endorsing his run for U.S. Senate.
Neither Broward Sheriff Scott Israel or Palm Beach County Ric Bradshaw were on the list. Also missing was Miami-Dade director of police Juan Perez.
“Throughout my time as governor, I have been honored to partner with Florida’s law enforcement leaders to champion important public safety investments and legislation to keep our families, visitors and communities safe,” Scott said at a campaign event in St. Petersburg. “These brave, hardworking heroes help make Florida the best place for families to achieve their dreams, and today, I am proud to accept the endorsement of 55 Florida Sheriffs from all across the state.”
Israel, a Democrat, has been under growing pressure from Republicans over his agency’s handling of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. There were repeated calls for the governor to remove the sheriff from office, but Scott has not done so.
On Monday, a new billboard urging Scott to remove Israel went up on southbound Interstate 95 north of Sunrise Boulevard. The billboard, paid for by the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association, reads: “Governor Scott, Before it happens again, remove Sheriff Israel.” The union had a similar billboard up earlier this year.
Scott also praised law enforcement for responding to natural disasters and mass shootings, but took a sideswipe at his opponent, incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson, for not demanding more accountability at the FBI.
The FBI received a tip that Nikolas Cruz, the exstudent at the Parkland school who shot and killed 17 students and faculty in February, was dangerous but failed to follow up on it. The FBI also interviewed Omar Mateen for possible ties to terrorist groups years before he killed 49 and wounded 53 at Pulse nightclub on June 12, 2016.
“Unfortunately, we have not seen the same public safety leadership we have here in Florida at the federal level,” Scott said. “We have seen the FBI fail time and time again to take action when they were warned about impending tragedy in Florida, with no accountability or transparency for the families whose lives were forever changed. It’s infuriating that the FBI has ignored our calls for answers, and that politicians in Congress have not done more to demand responsibility. Florida families deserve more.”
Information from Sun Sentinel staff reports was used in this report.