Stoneman Douglas report calls on the sheriff’s office to investigate SEVEN deputies who ‘failed to confront Nikolas Cruz during the horrific mass school shooting’

December 13, 2018 in News by RBN

  • Report by the school’s public safety commission says the seven deputies heard the gunshots but still spent more then a minute putting on their gear 
  • Said deputies should have ‘immediately moved’ toward the gunshots at school
  • Report comes a week after Broward Sheriff’s Office Captain Jan Jordan resigned 
  • Officials said she appeared overwhelmed during initial response to the attack
  • The report also recommended extensive overhaul of school security measures
  • This included mandating lockdown training for staff and students at schools 
  • Did not mention gun control policies despite push from its chairman Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who wants teachers to be trained to carry guns

A new report on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre has called on police to investigate seven deputies it claimed did not respond fast enough.

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission found that the Broward Sheriff’s Office displayed deficiencies in everything from training and command to individual performance in its response to the Parkland shooting.

It has recommended that the sheriff’s office investigate the performance of seven deputies who failed to engage the gunman despite hearing gunshots at the school.

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission found that the Broward Sheriff's Office displayed deficiencies in everything from training and command to individual performance in its response to the Parkland shooting 

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission found that the Broward Sheriff’s Office displayed deficiencies in everything from training and command to individual performance in its response to the Parkland shooting

‘Several uniformed BSO deputies were either seen on camera or described taking the time to retrieve and put on their ballistic vests, sometimes in excess of one minute and in response to hearing gunshots,’ reads the report, which was obtained by the Sun-Sentinel.

‘Deputy sheriffs who took the time to retrieve vests from containers in their cruisers, removed certain equipment they were wearing so that they could put on their vests, and then replaced the equipment they had removed all while shots were being fired, or had been recently fired is unacceptable and contrary to accepted protocol.’

‘Deputies should have immediately moved towards the gunshots to confront the shooter.’

The draft report, which was released Wednesday, noted that there was also ‘abundant confusion’ over the location of the sheriff’s command post.

‘This stemmed from an absence of command and control and an ineffective radio system,’ the report reads.

The report comes a week after BSO Capt Jan Jordan resigned following criticism regarding her response to the shooting  

The report comes a week after BSO Capt Jan Jordan resigned following criticism regarding her response to the shooting

‘A unified command consisting of command staff from BSO, CSPD, and CSFD took an excessive amount of time to establish.’

The report comes a week after BSO Capt Jan Jordan resigned and Sgt Brian Miller was placed on paid suspension following their response to the shooting.

Jordan oversaw the city of Parkland on February 14 and Miller was the first sergeant to arrive at the scene.

Law enforcement officers told investigators Jordan appeared to be in a trancelike state and overwhelmed as she tried to direct the initial response to the attack.

Miller arrived at the school during the shooting but video shows he stayed outside the parking lot until long after the massacre ended, even as other law enforcement officers entered the building.

An investigation found that Jordan never ordered deputies into the high school and her radio failed frequently because the system was overloaded.

Meanwhile, Miller took a position behind his patrol cal and never made a radio call as shots continued to ring out in the school when he arrived on the scene.

He stood by as officers from neighboring Coral Springs and additional BSO deputies ran past him into the building.

These deputies, who ran to the scene, sought out the shooter, and helped treat and evacuate victims, were praised in the report.

In the draft report, the commission also recommended an extensive overhaul of school security measures - including mandating lockdown training for staff and students 

In the draft report, the commission also recommended an extensive overhaul of school security measures – including mandating lockdown training for staff and students

Video shows deputy waiting outside during Parkland massacre

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The state commission is currently considering a long list of recommendations to address the problems that occurred in response to the Valentine’s Day massacre.

Made up of 15 members, the commission includes law enforcement officers, education and mental health professionals, a legislator, and the fathers of two slain students.

The commission, which issued a draft report on Wednesday, will present its final report to Gov Rick Scott ans the state legislature by January 1.

In the draft report, the commission also recommended an extensive overhaul of school security measures – including mandating lockdown training for staff and students.

It did not recommend new gun control policies, although they are among the proposals that the commission is considering on Wednesday and Thursday.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, the commission’s chairman, is pushing a proposal that would allow volunteer teachers who undergo extensive training to carry guns.

During its periodic meetings since April, the commission has learned the suspected gunman Nikolas Cruz (pictured in court in November) had a long history of disturbing behavior, including threats to shoot up the campus 

During its periodic meetings since April, the commission has learned the suspected gunman Nikolas Cruz (pictured in court in November) had a long history of disturbing behavior, including threats to shoot up the campus

The proposal is opposed by both the state teachers union and the PTA, who believe that would make schools more dangerous.

Other proposals include mandating armed security on all Florida campuses, giving every school employee a panic button in case of a shooting, and explicitly ordering all school officers and guards to confront shooters – even if they’re alone.

A number of proposals also touched on assessing troubled students, including mandating that all mental health providers must report any threats made against a school.

During its periodic meetings since April, the commission has learned the suspected gunman Nikolas Cruz had a long history of disturbing behavior, including threats to shoot up the campus.

Cruz, 20, is charged with 17 counts of first-degree murder.His attorneys have said he would plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.