Seven Broward (Florida) Sheriff's Office employees were placed on administrative leave amid the investigation into a triple murder in Tamarac, the sheriff announced Wednesday, calling it a "piss-poor performance" by several members of the agency.
"It is clear based on the preliminary information ... we fell short on this one," Sheriff Gregory Tony said, citing investigations leading up to the deadly shootings that could have put Nathan Gingles behind bars before he allegedly killed his wife, her father, and another man Sunday February 16.
The sheriff said that he could very well end up in front of the camera again to announce further suspensions as his agency looks more into the shortcomings of the investigation, WLTX reports.
Sheriff Tony said his agency may have been able to arrest Nathan Gingles back in December, but said a deputy failed to do his job properly.
The sheriff is referencing a call a deputy responded to where he spent 35 minutes and 34 seconds on scene, which Tony has memorized because he "watched every bit of it on body-worn camera."
Tony said the December case was very "robust" in terms of "threat spectrum," due to the amount of times Mary Gingles said she is afraid Nathan Gingles is going to kill her.
"There was enough there that we could have potentially pursued probable cause affidavit so we could arrest him and take him off the street," Tony said. "I'm basically saying we had a chance to save their loved ones life and we failed."