Broward sheriff expecting suspension

Embattled Broward Sheriff Scott Israel told members of his command staff Tuesday that he expects Florida’s new governor to suspend him, sources say.

But early that evening, the anticipated bad news had not been delivered.

“Although it may happen, I have not been suspended,” Israel told the South Florida Sun Sentinel in a text message.

The months-long parlor game

of when Israel might be removed heated up Tuesday with the departure of Gov. Rick Scott and the swearing-in of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

In his inaugural remarks as the new leader of the Sunshine State, DeSantis said, “If a local official is neglectful of required duties, I will remove the official.”

DeSantis hinted Monday that he was weighing possible replacements for Israel.

“As you look at different folks who have been mentioned as people who could potentially be suspended, the goal is not to [be] like, oh this person is politically different,” DeSantis said when asked if he is going to suspend Israel. “If you are going to do it, get somebody in there who is going to do a good job.”

Israel has been under intense criticism as evidence has mounted that his department mishandled its response to the mass shooting Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Seventeen staff and students died, and 17 more were wounded.

Eight deputies did not immediately rush into the school to confront the gunman after hearing gunshots. Commanders did not take control of the scene. And in 2016, Israel had changed the agency’s policy on active shooters to say deputies “may” go in rather than “shall” pursue a gunman.

In December, the sheriff’s office announced the active-shooter policy was revised and that deputies must immediately eliminate threats from a gunman.

Less than two weeks after the shooting, Israel appeared on CNN and said he showed “amazing leadership” during the tragedy.

In November, while testifying to the state commission investigating the Parkland shooting, Israel said: “At this point, based on what I know, I don’t have any reason to believe that any members of our agency knew there was an active shooter.”

Police reports show they did.

Israel followed that by saying that the school deputy Scott Peterson “never got on the radio and advised this agency there was an active shooter.”

Audio and transcripts of radio communications show he did.

Israel has maintained that he did nothing that would warrant his suspension.

The parents of children slain in the Parkland massacre are watching closely to see who will become the next sheriff in Broward County.

Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, died in the shooting, attended DeSantis’ inauguration. He expects Israel to be suspended in the next few days.

Guttenberg, a supporter of Democratic candidates, said he would not oppose Israel's ouster.

"I do think it is time for people to be held accountable," he said.

To watch Israel’s activities on social media Tuesday, it was a regular day at work.

He promoted leaders in his agency and signed a contract with the Broward County School Board that granted the Sheriff’s Office access to live feeds from school security cameras, according to a Twitter post.

“Real-time video feeds from schools would greatly assist in a more effective, directed police response,” said the post, which was also circulated Facebook. “Live, accurate intelligence can make all the difference when every second counts.”

Delayed video during the Feb. 14 massacre at Stoneman Douglas contributed to the disorganized response by police and deputies during the shootings.

Another sign of turmoil at the Sheriff’s Office also emerged Tuesday.

No one from the office turned up at the Broward County Commission meeting for a significant discussion about the county’s aged and unreliable police radio communications system, which is slated to be replaced at the end of this year for about $60 million.

The radios were a key failure in the response to the Parkland shooting.

“I thought when we were talking about the largest public safety expenditure in South Florida history probably, with the new radio system,” Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine said. “I thought there should have been top level people from BSO Communications at our meeting today. I was disappointed that they weren’t there.”

“If a local official is neglectful of required duties, I will remove the official.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis, in his inaugural remarks

BRYNN ANDERSON/AP Embattled Broward Sheriff Scott Israel told members of his command staff Tuesday that he expects Florida’s new governor to suspend him, sources say.