School resource officer Scot Peterson, believed he did his duty, according to the president of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association. He resigned in disgrace from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and was “distraught” about the shooting that killed 17 people.
A top union official said Peterson 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.
“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.
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 During.
The union head said that failing to take on Cruz was a mistake and he didn’t want to second-guess Peterson.
“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.”
Before the 33-year vet abruptly retired, Sheriff Israel suspended Peterson without pay.
Since 2009, Peterson had been the resource officer at Douglas High School and made a base annual salary of $75,673.72 as of 2016, according to sheriff’s office records.
However, his base salary doesn’t include longevity and first-responder bonuses that probably brought Peterson’s non-overtime pay closer to $80,000, according to Bell.
Tthe union head said Peterson’s pension will be 75 percent of the average of his top five earning years while on the job.
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