TALLAHASSEE, FLA. (WSVN) - Whether former Broward Sheriff Scott Israel will be reinstated or not will be determined by the Florida Senate on Wednesday.
In Tallahassee, a vote will be held later in the day as Senate members decide whether to uphold Governor Ron DeSantis’ decision to remove Scott Israel from office.
On Monday, a legislative panel rejected the recommendation by a special master who said he believed Israel should get his job back with a vote of nine to seven and one absent vote.
“This Senate is laying a precedent for any governor of any party, under any circumstance,” said Hillsborough County Sen. Tom Lee.
DeSantis removed Israel when he first took office in January, stating the Broward Sheriff demonstrated incompetence in his handling of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in 2018 and the 2017 shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Israel was replaced with Gregory Tony who remains on duty as sheriff of Broward County.
Parents of the students who were killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting continue to push against Israel’s potential reinstatement.
“It’s the systemic failures under the leadership of Mr. Israel that are the reason for the removal,” said Gina Montalto’s father Tony Montalto.
In their decision, senators will answer the question of how much responsibility a sheriff should bear for the actions or inaction of individual deputies. The topic was discussed in the Senate Rules Committee session held on Monday.
“Can you tell me why the Sarasota County Sheriff hasn’t been removed or suspended because one of his deputies was arrested for over 20 charges, including attempted murder?” asked Fort Lauderdale Sen. Gary Farmer during Monday’s meeting.
“Many things have happened in this state,” said DeSantis’ Attorney George Levesque. “He’s opted not to exercise his authority in that manner.”
Senator Lauren Book of Plantation voted against Israel’s suspension saying much of the blame of the MSD massacre falls on Scot Peterson.
“This has to do with my representation of the totality of Broward County in holding this former deputy, this coward, accountable for standing outside of that building for 48 minutes while he knew children were being murdered,” said Book.
Her decision to vote in favor of Israel’s reinstatement didn’t sit well with Parkland parents.
“She knew all the failures, so for her to just spew this bullcrap is just despicable,” said Andrew Pollack, Meadow Pollack’s father.
On Tuesday, representatives for Israel released the following statement:
“Sheriff Scott Israel is disappointed by the Senate Rules Committee’s abandonment of the Rule of Law and principles of fundamental fairness by its exercise of brute political force yesterday. The people of Broward County deserve their right to choose their sheriff by election.”
The Senate will be brought into session at 2 pm., but the vote is expected to take place hours later.
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