Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel has refused to resign despite facing severe criticism for his deputies’ response to the Parkland shooting, in which 17 people were killed earlier this month. In a media interview, Israel said he had given “amazing leadership to this agency.”
“Of course I won’t resign,” Israel, a Democrat, told CNN anchor Jake Tapper in an interview on “State of the Union” Sunday. “I can only take responsibility for what I knew about. I exercise my due diligence. I’ve given amazing leadership to this agency.”
Israel insisted that only one of his armed deputies, who later resigned, was responsible. “I was disgusted. I was just demoralized with the performance of former deputy [Scot] Peterson,” he said.
According to media reports, at least three more armed Broward County sheriff’s deputies were outside the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, but they chose to take cover behind their vehicles instead of promptly responding to the situation by going into the school.
However, Israel denied the reports.