Police arrest ex-deputy who 'did absolutely nothing to mitigate' Parkland school mass

Commander Wallace · 06-06-19, 01:50 PM

I have read the the entries that everyone has posted. With the exception of Skybird, everyone basically feels that that Peterson should be given a free pass.

I had some things to add to this:

The Sheriff's department that Peterson belonged to has military grade weapons and like most local police forces, consider themselves to be paramilitary forces because of their advanced training and use of military grade assault weapons.

If the Sheriff's Department are a Para-military force, Then lets look at how the U.S military views dereliction of Duty.

Quote : Generally, dereliction of duty refers to failure through negligence or obstinacy to perform one's legal or moral duty to a reasonable expectation. ... U.S. Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), addresses dereliction of duty within the regulations governing the failure to obey an order or regulation.

https://definitions.uslegal.com/d/de...-military-law/

Further, the various U.S Law Enforcement code provides Dereliction of Duty by a police officer definitions.

Quote:
Dereliction of duty. (A) No law enforcement officer shall negligently do any of the following: ... (2) Fail to prevent or halt the commission of an offense or to apprehend an offender, when it is in the law enforcement officer's power to do so alone or with available assistance. ( this is for Ohio but is the same standard )

https://law.justia.com/codes/ohio/20...2144-2c1f.html

This is generally considered to be a Misdemeanor B offense. With multiple fatalities involved that may have been prevented, It's anyone's guess how this will play out

So, if in fact Peterson had a duty to act and directed to do so and failed to follow orders, then Peterson should have been charged. I assume, not knowing the facts of the case that the District Attorney's office performed their due Diligence in determining charges were appropriate. 15 months have passed since the Parkland Florida shooting.

As a counterpoint, A Federal Judge has ruled that Peterson had no such duty to protect those same students. A County Judge came to an opposite ruling.

Quote : The Dec. 12 ruling, by Judge Beth Bloom, came on the same day that a county judge, Patti Englander Henning, came to the opposite conclusion. Judge Henning found that Scot Peterson, the armed sheriff’s deputy who heard the gunfire but did not run in and try to stop the attack, did have an obligation to confront Mr. Cruz.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/u...ng-police.html

Peterson is drawing an 8700.00 dollar a month pension. As most of you who have served in the military or police force know and understand, when you put on a uniform, you should expect to be placed in harm's way. The Captain and Executive officers involved in the collision of a U.S Navy Destroyer and commercial ships were also disciplined using a similar standard. Ironically, the owners of the commercial vessels with pay the U.S Navy for damages resulting from the collisions. Peterson, for whatever reason, decided to remain outside the school while the bloody rampage was going on. Those who feel Peterson acted appropriately may feel differently if their child had been senseless murdered while an armed law enforcement officer, paid to protect those same students, failed to act.

I guess we will just have to see how this plays out in court.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/u...avoidable.html

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-...ald-collision/

Rockstar · 06-06-19, 03:24 PM

There was a failure on so many levels far above this man's pay grade long before that fateful day. I fail to see what good a public hanging will do by targeting of all people the lowest man on the totem pole. I know crap runs downhill but this is ridiculous.
IMO he does not deserve jail nor should he be charged. Simply allow him to retire and live with his decision. IMHO its enough this man will be tormented by this nightmare for the rest of his life.

Platapus · 06-06-19, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

I have read the the entries that everyone has posted. With the exception of Skybird, everyone basically feels that that Peterson should be given a free pass.

I don't see where anyone is saying that he should get a free pass. I, and I think the other posters, feel that he is being over charged.

I absolutely agree that he should no longer be a police officer. I don't agree with his actions, but at the same time, I don't think his actions broke any laws. Tradition, codes of conduct, and even common decency? Sure and probably more. But not laws.

It does seem that the perjury charge is legitimate but I would want to see all of the evidence. The perjury charge is either a Class 2 or Class 3 felony which will take away his pension and most likely any retirement benefits.

He is going to have the snot sued out of him so any quality of life after he gets out of prison will be approximately zero. As I opined before, I would not be surprised if he ends up commuting suicide.

He may end up wishing he could be put in prison for the rest of his life.

He is not getting any free pass. His life will be hell.

about 60 years old
Felony record
No retirement
Savings gone in the lawsuits
Does not even get to live off of the tax payers while in prison

No one is going to hire him. If he does not have family, he will end up in a shelter. A free pass this ain't.

I am not exactly shedding tears over him either.

Commander Wallace · 06-06-19, 05:27 PM

^ Sorry Rockstar, I don't see it. decisions far above his pay grade have nothing to do with this as far as I can tell. Law Officer motto, " to serve and protect ." Peterson served only his own interests that day and protected no one. I doubt his conscience, if he has one, will bother him. Peterson was being paid to protect those kids and did nothing.

To be fair, I can see your point Rockstar and Platapus to varying degrees. Rockstar had said that Peterson has been given a life sentence of regret with regards to his decision not to act. Well, the parents of the kids who were killed have been given a life sentence as well. They will forever grieve and wonder if their kid could have been saved if a coward of a police officer had done what he was well paid to do. With June here, kids the world over are graduating from High School and looking foward to College, Military Service or life in general. These kids that were killed will never see that.

You had mentioned perjury, Platapus so I'm left to wonder what he lied to cover up. The D.A's office apparently feel that charges are justified. As you pointed out, Platapus, we don't know all the facts. I'm sure they will come out when Peterson has his day in court.

This is no doubt a contentious issue with varying opinions. Apparently, 2 judges are also taking opposing viewpoints as well from the links I provided. That being said, i'm not surprised there are differing opinions here as well.

One thing we can all agree on is a number of kids senselessly and tragically lost their lives. I know we are all sorry about that.

Aktungbby · 06-06-19, 08:45 PM

THE PROBLEM IS ALSO THE EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW; SINCE YOU HAD OTHER POLICE HOLDING BACK AS WITH THE 'PRECEDENT AT COLUMBINE' THEY MUST REASONABLY BE CHARGED AT LEAST AT MISDEAMENOR (IF THERE'S A FELONY LEVEL THERE MUST BE A MISDEAMENOR AND INFRACTON LEVEL AS WELL

) APPLICATIONS OF THE THE SO-CALLED LAW(S) WHICH IS DOUBTFUL AT BEST. MOREOVER THE MAN HAS BEEN PUBLICLY LAMBASTED BY HIS SUPERVISOR; THE PRESIDENT; THE GOVERNOR; AND OTHER OFFICIALS... WHERE THEN TO FIND A JURY OF HIS PEERS TO SIT IN JUDGEMENT AS IS HIS UNCONTESTABLE RIGHT AS A SOVEREIGN CITIZEN OF THE GOOD OL' USA

WHO CAN HONESTLY CLAIM IN PRETRIAL JUROR SELECTION VOIR DIRE THEY ARE NOT PREJUDICED....

Quote:

Originally Posted by WASHINTON POST

Jeff Bell, president of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association, wrote in an email that the union had “several concerns” with the charges, describing the neglect and culpable negligence counts as “a stretch at best.” Bell said he lacked enough details to comment on the perjury charge but added that he doubted the case would lead to a conviction...
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the law enforcement response to the shooting amid criticism of how multiple officers responded, and is looking at elements beyond Peterson’s actions, a spokesman said Tuesday.
A statewide commission investigating the shooting released a report assailing both the school securityand the law enforcement response. While Peterson’s actions have drawn widespread attention and derision, the public safety commission’s report described “several” Broward sheriff’s deputies taking their time to put on or remove gear “while shots were being fired,” which contradicts the widely accepted practice of rushing to confront active assailants. ALSO OTHER HEADS ARE BEGINNING TO ROLL:
In his executive order, GOVERNOR DeSantis highlighted these and other details in explaining why he made the unusual decision to dismiss an elected official, stating that (SHERIFF)Israel “egregiously failed” in his role as the top law enforcement officer in Broward.

“The neglect of duty and the incompetence that was connected to the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has been well documented,” DeSantis said at a news conference, joined by relatives of some Parkland victims. “Suffice it to say that the massacre might never have happened had Broward had better leadership in the sheriff’s department.” While mass attacks are often followed by reviews that reveal missteps or ominous warning signs, the Parkland shooting was remarkable for the sheer breadth of red flags preceding the massacre. Nikolas Cruz, the 20-year-old who police say confessed to the shooting, had come to the attention of local, state and federal officialsagain and again. Some of the warnings — including those made to the FBI and the Broward Sheriff’s Office — were explicit in labeling Cruz as a threat to attack a school. In Florida on Friday, DeSantis offered additional criticism for the FBI, calling its handling of the issue “a disgrace.” Since the April 1999 Columbine school shooting in Colorado,

Quote:

Originally Posted by ME/#5

SO HOW MANY OFFICERS WERE ARRESTED AT COLUMBINE FOR NOT CLOSING WITH SHOOTER?

AS IN ANY ATTACK, TIME AND TERRAIN ARE THE KEY AND THE SHOOTER COUNTS ON A TIME ZONE FOR MAXIMUM DESTRUCTION; THE FIRST RESPONDING OFFICER, WHO HAS ELECTED TO BE IN THIS TRADE AND PROFESSION, THEREFORE BECOMES THE EXPENDIBLE OFFICER (NOT A REAL ISSUE FOR 68 YEAROLDS) IN CLOSING THE TIME-WINDOW IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES....IF HE CAN'T DO THAT HE NEEDS TO SEEK OTHER EMPLOYMENT...NO IMHO ABOUT IT

it has become common law enforcement practice for officers to pursue attackers and eliminate the threat. (IE CUT DOWN THE WINDOW OF TIME) But in Parkland, the commission said, several deputies were seen or described as taking too much time to put on their ballistic gear or preparing to go inside, “all while shots were being fired, or had been recently fired.” Others arrived on a nearby road, heard shots and remained there rather than going to find the shooter.

CHARGE ALL OR CHARGE NONE: THE DEFENSE RESTS.

bstanko6 · 06-06-19, 08:49 PM

This is such a hard topic. So I know what he’s going through. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. We live in a country where if you do everything right, as a police officer, you can still be charged or told you do it wrong. With the Sue happy people we live with I could see police officers doing more and more less than ever. Do I agree that he shouldve done nothing… No. But unfortunately there’s too much to lose if you do something and you accidentally kill someone else or hurt someone else in this country.

If a police officer is meant to protect people, let him. People may get hurt people may even die. Don’t go after him/her, go after the family of the criminal that places your loved one in the bad situation.

Commander Wallace · 06-07-19, 05:49 AM

I agree with you, Aktung. They should all be charged if the facts prove they acted contrary to what was expected of them or what they were ordered to do. I wasn't aware that there were others who held back as well. I keep asking myself if the Law enforcement personnel were ordered to hold back.

All good points as well, bstanko6. We have all heard these stories of school shootings too many times. I think the schools need to implement some common sense approaches with regards to school safety.

Rockstar · 06-07-19, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

^ Sorry Rockstar, I don't see it. decisions far above his pay grade have nothing to do with this as far as I can tell. Law Officer motto, " to serve and protect ." Peterson served only his own interests that day and protected no one. I doubt his conscience, if he has one, will bother him. Peterson was being paid to protect those kids and did nothing.

To be fair, I can see your point Rockstar and Platapus to varying degrees. Rockstar had said that Peterson has been given a life sentence of regret with regards to his decision not to act. Well, the parents of the kids who were killed have been given a life sentence as well. They will forever grieve and wonder if their kid could have been saved if a coward of a police officer had done what he was well paid to do. With June here, kids the world over are graduating from High School and looking foward to College, Military Service or life in general. These kids that were killed will never see that.

You had mentioned perjury, Platapus so I'm left to wonder what he lied to cover up. The D.A's office apparently feel that charges are justified. As you pointed out, Platapus, we don't know all the facts. I'm sure they will come out when Peterson has his day in court.

This is no doubt a contentious issue with varying opinions. Apparently, 2 judges are also taking opposing viewpoints as well from the links I provided. That being said, i'm not surprised there are differing opinions here as well.

One thing we can all agree on is a number of kids senselessly and tragically lost their lives. I know we are all sorry about that.

Commander I understand where you're coming from and its sad that so many died. I can only surmise that his lack of action is what caused more deaths. As far I know he could've just been added to the body count upon entry. It's well known some people have the 'right stuff' others just think they do. He will live with that shame for the rest of his life. If on the other hand he lied about something trying to hide cowardice then I reckon he'll have to pay the price for his lie.

Still, grieving parents ought not to place blame for their child's murder on the cops decision not too engage. Rather on the decision of the murderer who pulled the trigger. The thought of this man sharing a cell with the murderer is abhorrent.

Platapus · 06-07-19, 04:43 PM

The news reporting has been sparse on details concerning the perjury charge. I have not been able to access the actual indictment documents which would spell out exactly what laws and the specific charges are.

Commander Wallace · 06-07-19, 04:57 PM

^ I understand a bit what you are saying Rockstar. With more details not forthcoming, all we can do is assume what the facts are. We will all have to wait and see what comes out of the process.

With regards to grieving parents not blaming officers who didn't go in, who should they blame ? If law enforcement personnel had acted sooner, some of those kids might still be alive. That is of course, conjecture. Lets not forget, that is what these officers are paid handsomely for.

It all comes down to if they were following orders by holding back. If that's the case, the blame is with those decision makers. If you have officers too timid to do their jobs, why have them in the first place ?

The shooter cruz is another matter.

Rockstar · 06-07-19, 06:54 PM

As far as the officer is concerned or anyone for that matter. Nobody ever gets paid to sacrifice their own life for another. That's a personal decision, you either have what it takes, or you dont.

Commander Wallace · 06-07-19, 09:31 PM

^ I never said the police officers were paid to give up their lives or sacrifice their lives for another. They were being paid to stop the commission of a crime which the police knew full well was in progress. In this case, a deadly rampage. When you put on a uniform, you should understand you are there to " serve and protect ." You may even be called upon to use deadly force. If someone can't handle or understand that, they have no business being a police officer.

06-06-19, 01:50 PM	#1
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,304 Downloads: 366 Uploads: 0	I have read the the entries that everyone has posted. With the exception of Skybird, everyone basically feels that that Peterson should be given a free pass. I had some things to add to this: The Sheriff's department that Peterson belonged to has military grade weapons and like most local police forces, consider themselves to be paramilitary forces because of their advanced training and use of military grade assault weapons. If the Sheriff's Department are a Para-military force, Then lets look at how the U.S military views dereliction of Duty. Quote : Generally, dereliction of duty refers to failure through negligence or obstinacy to perform one's legal or moral duty to a reasonable expectation. ... U.S. Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), addresses dereliction of duty within the regulations governing the failure to obey an order or regulation. https://definitions.uslegal.com/d/de...-military-law/ Further, the various U.S Law Enforcement code provides Dereliction of Duty by a police officer definitions. Quote: Dereliction of duty. (A) No law enforcement officer shall negligently do any of the following: ... (2) Fail to prevent or halt the commission of an offense or to apprehend an offender, when it is in the law enforcement officer's power to do so alone or with available assistance. ( this is for Ohio but is the same standard ) https://law.justia.com/codes/ohio/20...2144-2c1f.html This is generally considered to be a Misdemeanor B offense. With multiple fatalities involved that may have been prevented, It's anyone's guess how this will play out So, if in fact Peterson had a duty to act and directed to do so and failed to follow orders, then Peterson should have been charged. I assume, not knowing the facts of the case that the District Attorney's office performed their due Diligence in determining charges were appropriate. 15 months have passed since the Parkland Florida shooting. As a counterpoint, A Federal Judge has ruled that Peterson had no such duty to protect those same students. A County Judge came to an opposite ruling. Quote : The Dec. 12 ruling, by Judge Beth Bloom, came on the same day that a county judge, Patti Englander Henning, came to the opposite conclusion. Judge Henning found that Scot Peterson, the armed sheriff’s deputy who heard the gunfire but did not run in and try to stop the attack, did have an obligation to confront Mr. Cruz. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/u...ng-police.html Peterson is drawing an 8700.00 dollar a month pension. As most of you who have served in the military or police force know and understand, when you put on a uniform, you should expect to be placed in harm's way. The Captain and Executive officers involved in the collision of a U.S Navy Destroyer and commercial ships were also disciplined using a similar standard. Ironically, the owners of the commercial vessels with pay the U.S Navy for damages resulting from the collisions. Peterson, for whatever reason, decided to remain outside the school while the bloody rampage was going on. Those who feel Peterson acted appropriately may feel differently if their child had been senseless murdered while an armed law enforcement officer, paid to protect those same students, failed to act. I guess we will just have to see how this plays out in court. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/u...avoidable.html https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-...ald-collision/ Last edited by Commander Wallace; 06-06-19 at 02:10 PM.

06-06-19, 08:49 PM	#6
bstanko6 Admiral Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Murwik Naval Academy Posts: 2,130 Downloads: 390 Uploads: 13	This is such a hard topic. So I know what he’s going through. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. We live in a country where if you do everything right, as a police officer, you can still be charged or told you do it wrong. With the Sue happy people we live with I could see police officers doing more and more less than ever. Do I agree that he shouldve done nothing… No. But unfortunately there’s too much to lose if you do something and you accidentally kill someone else or hurt someone else in this country. If a police officer is meant to protect people, let him. People may get hurt people may even die. Don’t go after him/her, go after the family of the criminal that places your loved one in the bad situation. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] BSTANKO6'S SH5 NAVAL ACADEMY http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPbe...W2NArCA/videos DISCORD https://discord.gg/6tFeTSUmVc

06-07-19, 04:43 PM	#9
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,375 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	The news reporting has been sparse on details concerning the perjury charge. I have not been able to access the actual indictment documents which would spell out exactly what laws and the specific charges are. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

06-07-19, 06:54 PM	#11
Rockstar In the Brig Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Zendia Bar & Grill Posts: 12,614 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	As far as the officer is concerned or anyone for that matter. Nobody ever gets paid to sacrifice their own life for another. That's a personal decision, you either have what it takes, or you dont. Last edited by Rockstar; 06-07-19 at 08:30 PM.

06-06-19, 03:24 PM	#2
Rockstar In the Brig Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Zendia Bar & Grill Posts: 12,614 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	There was a failure on so many levels far above this man's pay grade long before that fateful day. I fail to see what good a public hanging will do by targeting of all people the lowest man on the totem pole. I know crap runs downhill but this is ridiculous. IMO he does not deserve jail nor should he be charged. Simply allow him to retire and live with his decision. IMHO its enough this man will be tormented by this nightmare for the rest of his life.

06-06-19, 05:27 PM	#4
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,304 Downloads: 366 Uploads: 0	^ Sorry Rockstar, I don't see it. decisions far above his pay grade have nothing to do with this as far as I can tell. Law Officer motto, " to serve and protect ." Peterson served only his own interests that day and protected no one. I doubt his conscience, if he has one, will bother him. Peterson was being paid to protect those kids and did nothing. To be fair, I can see your point Rockstar and Platapus to varying degrees. Rockstar had said that Peterson has been given a life sentence of regret with regards to his decision not to act. Well, the parents of the kids who were killed have been given a life sentence as well. They will forever grieve and wonder if their kid could have been saved if a coward of a police officer had done what he was well paid to do. With June here, kids the world over are graduating from High School and looking foward to College, Military Service or life in general. These kids that were killed will never see that. You had mentioned perjury, Platapus so I'm left to wonder what he lied to cover up. The D.A's office apparently feel that charges are justified. As you pointed out, Platapus, we don't know all the facts. I'm sure they will come out when Peterson has his day in court. This is no doubt a contentious issue with varying opinions. Apparently, 2 judges are also taking opposing viewpoints as well from the links I provided. That being said, i'm not surprised there are differing opinions here as well. One thing we can all agree on is a number of kids senselessly and tragically lost their lives. I know we are all sorry about that.

06-07-19, 05:49 AM	#7
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,304 Downloads: 366 Uploads: 0	I agree with you, Aktung. They should all be charged if the facts prove they acted contrary to what was expected of them or what they were ordered to do. I wasn't aware that there were others who held back as well. I keep asking myself if the Law enforcement personnel were ordered to hold back. All good points as well, bstanko6. We have all heard these stories of school shootings too many times. I think the schools need to implement some common sense approaches with regards to school safety.

06-07-19, 04:57 PM	#10
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,304 Downloads: 366 Uploads: 0	^ I understand a bit what you are saying Rockstar. With more details not forthcoming, all we can do is assume what the facts are. We will all have to wait and see what comes out of the process. With regards to grieving parents not blaming officers who didn't go in, who should they blame ? If law enforcement personnel had acted sooner, some of those kids might still be alive. That is of course, conjecture. Lets not forget, that is what these officers are paid handsomely for. It all comes down to if they were following orders by holding back. If that's the case, the blame is with those decision makers. If you have officers too timid to do their jobs, why have them in the first place ? The shooter cruz is another matter.

06-07-19, 09:31 PM	#12
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,304 Downloads: 366 Uploads: 0	^ I never said the police officers were paid to give up their lives or sacrifice their lives for another. They were being paid to stop the commission of a crime which the police knew full well was in progress. In this case, a deadly rampage. When you put on a uniform, you should understand you are there to " serve and protect ." You may even be called upon to use deadly force. If someone can't handle or understand that, they have no business being a police officer.