Life

Florida Sheriff Won't Resign Following Parkland School Shooting

Amidst criticism following school shooting, Broward County Sheriff refuses to step down.

This is a picture of Scott Israel.
Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg/Corbis via Getty Images
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Local law enforcement in Parkland, Florida has faced great criticism since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel has found himself at the center of these negative, yet valid, comments. According to CNN, Sheriff Israel will not step down, despite mounting criticism on how his department responded to the recent mass shooting, which left 17 dead. Israel made this statement in response to state lawmakers urgent call to Governor Rick Scott to remove the sheriff.

Even conservatives understand how dire this situation is. Slate reports that GOP State Representative Bill Hager has urged Governor Rick Scott to remove Israel due to his "negligence" as a local police leader. Hager cited the many tips and warnings the Sheriff's office has received (including one from the FBI last September), stressing that the tragedy in Parkland could've been avoided under different leadership.

Additionally, Florida's Speaker of the House, Richard Corcoran, sent a letter to Governor Scott—echoing Hager's call to suspend Sheriff Israel—which was signed by dozens of Republican legislators.

Last week, an armed school officer resigned from his job, since he failed to confront gunman Nikolas Cruz.

Since the shooting earlier this month, outrage over the National Rifle Association—especially among Parkland students—has swept the country. As a result, major companies are finally cutting ties with the NRA, such as Delta and United Airlines.

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