https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-says-deputy-waited-outside-160046902.html

President Donald Trump slammed a deputy police officer who failed to enter Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School while gunman Nikolas Cruz was at large, calling him a "coward" who lacked the "courage" to fulfill the duties of his job.

“He’s trained his whole life… but when it came time to get in there and do something, he didn’t have the courage or something happened," Trump told reporters on Friday. "But he certainly did a poor job, there's no question about that."

Broward County Deputy Officer Scot Peterson resigned from his post on Thursday after word got out that the 54-year-old had been the only armed deputy on the scene and had done nothing to apprehend Cruz as he killed 17 people. Instead, Peterson waited outside for "upwards of four minutes," according to Sheriff Scott Israel and video footage capturing the incident.

"I am devastated," Israel said at a press conference. "Sick to my stomach. He never went in."
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Just curious what you guys think about this.

This is my opinion:  the cop is sworn to serve and protect.  But that doesn't include rushing headlong into a situation where the odds of succeeding isn't too good.  Taking on shooter(s) armed with ARs with only your 9mm and no backup aint the smartest thing in the world to do.  In dangerous situations normally, cops call and wait for backup before rushing in.  A handgun, concealed or not, is your best defensive option against someone armed with a rifle, but in no ways does it make sense to rush someone head-on.  In a defensive situation, with the element of surprise on your side, you potentially can stop the shooter (such as if teachers or other school employees were armed).

I really don't think hanging the guy for not charging in alone (and probably getting mowed down) is fair.

Granted he shouldn't rush in, but his report says he didn't hear the gun shots, just saw kids running out of the building.  At that point, he should have entered and tried to locate the sounds.  Because he obviously knew it was a shooter because the fleeing kids told him.  Just my 2 cents.

From the article:
"Peterson's lack of response might be said to fly in the face of the "good guy with a gun myth," which contends that if only the right person were equipped with a firearm, they would be able to stop a gunman and thwart mass killings like the one that occurred in Parkland, Florida, last week. Research shows that—in addition to it being potentially counterproductive for there to be multiple armed people in the same place as an active shooter—humans are prone to a "freeze" response when faced in situations that threaten our survival, often preventing us from action. "

The author failed to realize that this is LE and he froze. So if we can't rely on LE who can we rely on?

From the article:
"Peterson's lack of response might be said to fly in the face of the "good guy with a gun myth," which contends that if only the right person were equipped with a firearm, they would be able to stop a gunman and thwart mass killings like the one that occurred in Parkland, Florida, last week. Research shows that—in addition to it being potentially counterproductive for there to be multiple armed people in the same place as an active shooter—humans are prone to a "freeze" response when faced in situations that threaten our survival, often preventing us from action. "

The author failed to realize that this is LE and he froze. So if we can't rely on LE who can we rely on?

I think there's also a big difference between being in the middle of the shit and being on the outside looking in.  If youre on the outside, you have the choice whether or not to put yourself in harm's way, while if youre in the middle, you're grasping at any options to protect your and the life of the kids.  In that situation, being armed and trained is far better than trying to hide and use your body as a shield for the kids.

I think there's also a big difference between being in the middle of the shit and being on the outside looking in.  If youre on the outside, you have the choice whether or not to put yourself in harm's way, while if youre in the middle, you're grasping at any options to protect your and the life of the kids.  In that situation, being armed and trained is far better than trying to hide and use your body as a shield for the kids.

Seems like its always the teachers who are in the middle.  So common sense, arm the teachers.

Florida and Columbine teach us that one armed resource officer is not sufficient for a large school.  Solution:  Authorize and train all faculty who volunteer to carry and properly use a concealed firearm.  There needs to be armed faculty near every possible entrance, including the administrative office.

Florida teaches us that training is critical.  I don't have any information on this deputy's training, but if he'd been regularly trained on active shooter and hostage situations, he wouldn't have to think what to do.  He would know the steps in order, and following them on "autopilot".

True that none of us knows how we'll react in a stressful, life-or-death situation.  However, regular training ensures that tunnel vision and adrenaline rush won't be all your mind is focused on.

There were students and faculty who protected others and lost their own lives doing it.  They were unarmed, but that didn't stop them from doing what they knew was right.  The Deputy knew there was a shooter, but he did nothing.  I have to wonder what he did in a normal day to keep the school safe.  Why was he getting paid to be there?

I predict this guy will have to either leave the state, or he'll commit suicide.  There's little chance he'll be able to live with what he did otherwise.

I get that you guys want to arm the teachers and all, but self defense is a personal choice.  Most like to rely on 911, we like to rely on 1911.  All a personal choice.

I'd definitely support teachers being able to concealed carry.  Ignoring how the world works today is not an excuse anymore.

He had one job...

This is my opinion:  the cop is sworn to serve and protect.  But that doesn't include rushing headlong into a situation where the odds of succeeding isn't too good.  Taking on shooter(s) armed with ARs with only your 9mm and no backup aint the smartest thing in the world to do.  In dangerous situations normally, cops call and wait for backup before rushing in.  A handgun, concealed or not, is your best defensive option against someone armed with a rifle, but in no ways does it make sense to rush someone head-on.  In a defensive situation, with the element of surprise on your side, you potentially can stop the shooter (such as if teachers or other school employees were armed).

I really don't think hanging the guy for not charging in alone (and probably getting mowed down) is fair.

I agree here.  Just because hes a cop doesnt mean hes a hero.  I'm sure these school PD guys are just given the position on their way out the door to retirement and are in no capacity capable of dealing with an AR wielding individual.  How manpower is allocated should be looked at here as well.

I know I'd feel safer with my kids at school with proper armed security rather than being target practice for a madman.

I hope that I would be "heroic" in that situation, but it is difficult to predict how I would act.  However, given the job he signed up for, the training he had, and the equipment he was given . . . as the deputy's boss said he should have "went in, addressed the killer, killed the killer." 

I agree that one element to reducing casualties is removing "gun free zones" and allow concealed carry to those who wish to (including here).  Concealed carry has had positive results, it was a CDC funded study during Obama that found that guns were used defensively 500,000 to 3,000,000 per year.

The author failed to realize that this is LE and he froze. So if we can't rely on LE who can we rely on?

From the NY Post...

The sheriff’s deputy who failed to engage the shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School “believed he did a good job” because he called in the location of the massacre and gave a description of the shooter, a top union official said Thursday.

School resource officer Scot Peterson, who resigned in disgrace from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, was “distraught” about the shooting that killed 17 people — but believed he did his duty, according to the president of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association.

“He believed he did a good job calling in the location, setting up the perimeter and calling in the description (of Cruz),” said the union official, Jim Bell.

During a press conference, Peterson was lambasted by his sheriff, Scott Israel, for not engaging shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz last week as he slaughtered students and staff at Douglas High School in Parkland.

The union head said he didn’t want to second-guess Peterson — but strongly suggested that failing to take on Cruz was a mistake.

“We have to act, even if that means risking our lives to save many, many more lives. I would demand that from our union members,” said Bell, still a working deputy.

“You’re listening to an execution every time you hear the rifle shot.”

Sheriff Israel suspended Peterson without pay before the 33-year vet abruptly retired.

Peterson was not an association member, but sheriff’s brass asked Bell to contact him with the bad news.

From the NY Post...

The sheriff’s deputy who failed to engage the shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School “believed he did a good job” because he called in the location of the massacre and gave a description of the shooter, a top union official said Thursday.

School resource officer Scot Peterson, who resigned in disgrace from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, was “distraught” about the shooting that killed 17 people — but believed he did his duty, according to the president of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association.

“He believed he did a good job calling in the location, setting up the perimeter and calling in the description (of Cruz),” said the union official, Jim Bell.

During a press conference, Peterson was lambasted by his sheriff, Scott Israel, for not engaging shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz last week as he slaughtered students and staff at Douglas High School in Parkland.

The union head said he didn’t want to second-guess Peterson — but strongly suggested that failing to take on Cruz was a mistake.

“We have to act, even if that means risking our lives to save many, many more lives. I would demand that from our union members,” said Bell, still a working deputy.

“You’re listening to an execution every time you hear the rifle shot.”

Sheriff Israel suspended Peterson without pay before the 33-year vet abruptly retired.

Peterson was not an association member, but sheriff’s brass asked Bell to contact him with the bad news.

"Standing outside the building's entrance for 3-4 minutes" is now considered "setting up the perimeter?"  Good to know.

"...calling in the description (of Cruz)?"  Really?  That means he had eyes on the shooter.  I seriously doubt he had the time or clarity to stop students and ask them for a description.

If he could see the shooter well enough to give a description, he was close enough to end it.

They say the shooter evaded capture at the school by walking out with the crowd of kids.  If the Cops arriving were  given such a great description of Cruz, I would think the Cops arriving would have prevented him from leaving -- you know, as he walked through the "perimeter" the Deputy established.

So much bullshit in so few words.

From the NY Post...

The sheriff’s deputy who failed to engage the shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School “believed he did a good job” because he called in the location of the massacre and gave a description of the shooter, a top union official said Thursday.

School resource officer Scot Peterson, who resigned in disgrace from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, was “distraught” about the shooting that killed 17 people — but believed he did his duty, according to the president of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association.

“He believed he did a good job calling in the location, setting up the perimeter and calling in the description (of Cruz),” said the union official, Jim Bell.

During a press conference, Peterson was lambasted by his sheriff, Scott Israel, for not engaging shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz last week as he slaughtered students and staff at Douglas High School in Parkland.

The union head said he didn’t want to second-guess Peterson — but strongly suggested that failing to take on Cruz was a mistake.

“We have to act, even if that means risking our lives to save many, many more lives. I would demand that from our union members,” said Bell, still a working deputy.

“You’re listening to an execution every time you hear the rifle shot.”

Sheriff Israel suspended Peterson without pay before the 33-year vet abruptly retired.

Peterson was not an association member, but sheriff’s brass asked Bell to contact him with the bad news.

securing the perimeter has not been SOP since Columbine
SOP now is to advance and engage the shooter, without waiting for backup...

They did just have a active shooter scenario a few days prior right?

There's a district in Ohio that the PD is giving out 50 CCW classes for teachers.  In 1 hour, 150 teachers signed up.  The chief was on the news about this.

And, it gets worse ....

CNN Reports FOUR Broward County Deputies Waited Outside School As Children Were Massacred

When Coral Springs police officers arrived at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland,
Florida, on February 14 in the midst of the school shooting crisis, many officers were surprised to
find not only that Broward County Sheriff's Deputy Scot Peterson, the armed school resource officer,
had not entered the building, but that three other Broward County Sheriff's deputies were also outside
the school and had not entered, Coral Springs sources tell CNN. The deputies had their pistols drawn
 and were behind their vehicles, the sources said, and not one of them had gone into the school.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/27523/breaking-cnn-reports-four-broward-county-deputies-ben-shapiro?amp&__twitter_impression=true

I have a feeling the Sheriff isn't going to be in office for much longer.

Depends what their policy is on active shooters and what type of training they received.  The majority of the fault could be with the department.

Deputy is not issued a pistol to hold his pants up.
Shots fired in a target rich environment is reason to immediately enter the area after calling in the information.
He works there and should be familiar enough with the layout to enable a reasonably tactical search.

Deputy is not issued a pistol to hold his pants up.
Shots fired in a target rich environment is reason to immediately enter the area after calling in the information.
He works there and should be familiar enough with the layout to enable a reasonably tactical search.

Like I said, he called in a description of the shooter.  If he could see the shooter that well, he had the tactical advantage of having the shooter in sight.  I hope that video is leaked or released to the public.  It'll support or eliminate a lot of second guesses as to how well/poorly he reacted.

And, it gets worse ....

CNN Reports FOUR Broward County Deputies Waited Outside School As Children Were Massacred

https://www.dailywire.com/news/27523/breaking-cnn-reports-four-broward-county-deputies-ben-shapiro?amp&__twitter_impression=true

I have a feeling the Sheriff isn't going to be in office for much longer.

if that's the truth, that's a different story... 1 cop, I can understand not entering.  But not 4 cops, with 4 they definitely should be rushing the building.  Like macsak said, after columbine, they're supposed to enter without waiting for swat, fbi, etc to show up.