Panel rips sheriff’s policy in Fla. school massacre
Commission also critical of training
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The commission investigating a Florida high school massacre criticized the responding sheriff office’s active shooter policy Thursday, saying it contributed to the failure of some deputies to run into the building and confront the gunman.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission found Thursday that Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel’s policy that deputies “may” confront active shooters rather than “shall” gave some an excuse for not entering the building during the Feb. 14 massacre that left 17 dead. The commission found that several deputies arrived at the school during the shooting but stayed outside, including Scot Peterson, who was assigned to the school.
Israel has attacked Peterson for not entering the building but told commissioners last month that he didn’t want deputies engaging in “suicide missions,” which is why he changed the policy to say “may.”
But the commission’s law enforcement members said that could be handled by training deputies how to confront shooters in the safest way possible.
“‘May’ gave them (deputies) the out not to enter,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, a commissioner. “They decided to be cowards instead of heroes.”
Peterson retired shortly after the shooting after video showed him going to the three-story building where the shooting happened, pulling his gun and then taking cover outside. In a lawsuit filed by a victim’s father, Peterson’s attorney argued in court Wednesday that the deputy had no legal obligation to confront the shooter — an argument the judge rejected.
Some deputies remained outside the school, even after other deputies and police officers from a neighboring city charged inside. The commission said Israel should investigate those deputies and take appropriate disciplinary action.
The commission, meeting in Tallahassee, also found the training Broward deputies receive for confronting active shooters is inadequate, pointing to statements several made to commission investigators that they couldn’t remember the last time they were trained.
The commission criticized the sheriff’s office and FBI for not acting on tips that suspect Nikolas Cruz was a potential school shooter, but said Broward deputies who responded to Cruz’s home numerous times during his teens for minor incidents acted appropriately. Both agencies say they have taken steps to avoid a repeat.
The commission also found that Cruz, a 20-yearold former Stoneman Douglas student, never met the criteria for involuntary mental health confinement and even if he did, that would not have banned him from buying the semi-automatic rifle he used.
The 15-member commission includes law enforcement, education and mental health professionals, a legislator and the fathers of two slain students. The members have been meeting periodically since April and must file a report to Gov. Rick Scott, incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature by Jan. 1.
Cruz has pleaded not guilty, but his attorneys have said he would plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.