DeSantis: Reinstating Sheriff Israel would disrespect families.

Gov. Ron DeSantis used his State of the State address to try to tip the scales against former Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel.

Any senator who would vote to reinstate Israel would “thumb his nose” at the families who lost loved ones in the Parkland school shooting, he told state legislators Tuesday.

DeSantis suspended Israel in January and replaced him with Greg Tony, a former Coral Springs police officer who has a background in active-shooter training.

The Florida Senate is charged with deciding whether Israel should be removed from office or reinstated.

“The failures of the former sheriff are well-documented,” said DeSantis, a Republican. “Why any senator would want to thumb his nose at the Parkland families and eject Sheriff Tony, who is doing a great job and has made history as the first AfricanAmerican sheriff in the history of Broward, is beyond me.”

Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton called DeSantis’ statement on Israel a “bit of an awkward moment for the governor.”

“He has every right to suspend him and has his reasons for doing so, but the Senate also has a role,” he said. “We are going to do it right. We are going to have due process . ... We are not going to be a rubber stamp for the governor.”

In his suspension order, the governor cited Israel for incompetence and neglect of duty. DeSantis said Israel “egregiously failed in his duties” by not properly training deputies and not maintaining “a culture of vigilance and thoroughness,” among other weaknesses.

Israel is fighting the suspension, saying he did nothing that would rise to the level of incompetence or neglect of duty. His case is tentatively set for trial in Tallahassee the week of April 8.

Israel, a Democrat, said the suspension was politically motivated because of his support for gun control. Tony, his replacement, has been registered in both parties in the past, and recently switched from Republican to Democrat.

DeSantis urged state legislators to pass the recommendations made by a state commission investigating the shooting. The panel recommended allowing teachers who voluntarily undergo training to carry guns on campus.

DeSantis also touted the impaneling of a statewide grand jury to investigate school security in Broward and other jurisdictions.

“I have gotten to know a number of the families and one thing that has stuck with me is something I’ve heard a number of them say — that this was the most preventable school shooting maybe in history,” DeSantis said.