Parkland High SRO is charged after staying outside during the shooting massacre

[CF DolFan]

I know several of you said there is no duty for officers to help but looks like this guy is going to be held accountable for not helping.



Parkland high school resource officer is charged after staying outside during the shooting massacre that claimed 17 lives

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

PUBLISHED: 15:39 EDT, 4 June 2019 | UPDATED: 16:20 EDT, 4 June 2019


The former Florida deputy who failed to confront a gunman during last year's Parkland school massacre has been arrested on 11 criminal charges related to his actions.

Broward State Attorney Mike Satz said in a statement that 56-year-old Scot Peterson faces child neglect, culpable negligence and perjury charges that carry a combined potential prison sentence of nearly 100 years.

Peterson, then a Broward deputy, was on duty as the school resource officer during the February 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School but never went inside while bullets were flying.

.....

The charges follow a 14-month investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, according to that agency.

'The FDLE investigation shows former deputy Peterson did absolutely nothing to mitigate the MSD shooting that killed 17 children, teachers and staff and injured 17 others,' FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen in an email statement said.

'There can be no excuse for his complete inaction and no question that his inaction cost lives.'

Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said Peterson has been formally terminated, although he announced his retirement shortly after the shooting.

'It's never too late for accountability and justice,' Tony said.

[BuccaneerBrad]

Good.  Take away his pension and lock him away for the rest of his life.   When you take the oath of a police officer, you swear to protect and defend innocent lives, even if it costs you your own

[pondwater]

Good.  Take away his pension and lock him away for the rest of his life.   When you take the path of a police officer, you swear to protect and defend innocent lives, even if it costs you your own

That's not correct. In light of several SCOTUS rulings, I don't think those charge will or should stick. Cops aren't legally bound to protect people so stuff like child neglect is a non-starter. The Supreme Court has ruled that the police do not have a duty to protect any person from harm. Basically, cops only have to enforce the law and protecting someone from harm isn't required. It's not against the law to be a coward. The perjury charge may and should stick though.

Discounting and ignoring  supreme court rulings of the past just because of public outrage is a slippery slope we don't need to go down. It opens up many doors that shouldn't be opened.

[CF DolFan]

Basically, cops only have to enforce the law and protecting someone from harm isn't required. It's not against the law to be a coward. The perjury charge may stick though.

Putting on my paper lawyer hat .... Allowing an active shooter to continue isn't "engforcing" the law.  With that said I have to believe the FDLE isn't doing this as a publicity stunt because if he goes free they loose any credit given.

[pondwater]

Putting on my paper lawyer hat .... Allowing an active shooter to continue isn't "engforcing" the law.  With that said I have to believe the FDLE isn't doing this as a publicity stunt because if he goes free they loose any credit given.

We shall see.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Putting on my paper lawyer hat .... Allowing an active shooter to continue isn't "engforcing" the law.  With that said I have to believe the FDLE isn't doing this as a publicity stunt because if he goes free they loose any credit given.

I doubt anything other than the perjury will stick.  It is well settled law that police can’t be criminally charged for failing to do their job.  The firing (as opposed to being allowed to retire) could stick as well.

As for losing credit.  Nope, new sheriff can still tout how he wants to hold officer accountable, but the courts are the problem.  That ploy happens all the time.   

[BuccaneerBrad]

I doubt anything other than the perjury will stick.  It is well settled law that police can’t be criminally charged for failing to do their job.  The firing (as opposed to being allowed to retire) could stick as well.

As for losing credit.  Nope, new sheriff can still tout how he wants to hold officer accountable, but the courts are the problem.  That ploy happens all the time.   

If he's fired, does he have to return any pensions payments that he received?

[Dolphster]

I found that charges being filed were very surprising.  It will be very interesting to see how this all plays out. 

[CF DolFan]

As for losing credit.  Nope, new sheriff can still tout how he wants to hold officer accountable, but the courts are the problem.  That ploy happens all the time.   

This didn't have anything to do with the new Sheriff. It was investigated by the FDLE and they oversee all law enforcement. They are a state-wide investigative law enforcement agency within the state of Florida

[Dave Gray]

I am surprised by this outcome, as well.  It doesn't seem like the majority of these charges should stick.

[Phishfan]

A lot of charges will not stick but I feel he is a coward and deserves the public shame of the arrest.