Suspended—and embattled—Broward (FL) Sheriff Scott Israel has reportedly filed a lawsuit seeking reinstatement after he was replaced in January over his handling of the mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.
According to The Hill, Israel's suit alleges that Governor Ron DeSantis suspended him as part of a "political power play."
The suit essentially dismisses allegations that the department failed to act on dozens of tips about the suspected gunman accused of killing 17 students and staff members and injuring 17 others in February 2018.
Governor DeSantis' spokeswoman Helen Ferre said in a statement, "It is lamentable that Scott Israel refuses to be held accountable for his actions and continues to hold disregard for the law."
Before the incident, Sheriff Israel had reportedly changed language in the department's policy to say that deputies "may"—instead of "shall"—confront active killers, allegedly opening the door for deputies to the incident to not immediately respond to the massacre.
