High School Resource Deputy Who Stayed Outside During Parkland Shooting Responds to Criticism
Scot Peterson claims the accusations he acted out of cowardice are "patently untrue."
He’s been called a coward by everyone from his former boss to the President of the United States. But now Scot Peterson is speaking up and defending his actions during the Parkland school shooting.
In a statement released Monday, the former Broward County sheriff’s deputy and Marjory Stoneman Douglas school resource officer rejected accusations that he acted cowardly. He says the charge is “patently untrue.” He did as he was trained.
On February 14, a former student with an AR-15 entered MSD high school in Parkland, Fla. He killed 17 people. Last week, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel blasted Peterson for his inaction, claiming Peterson “never went in” during the assault.
It’s true that Peterson, who resigned, remained outside the school building. In the statement via his lawyer Joseph DiRuzzo, Peterson explains why.
Peterson’s Account
As Peterson tells it, he received an initial call of firecrackers, not gunshots. After running to the building where the noise was reported, he heard gunshots. He thought they were coming from outside.
“BSO trains its officers that in the event of outdoor gunfire one is to seek cover and assess the situation in order to communicate what one observes to other law enforcement,” the statement says. Peterson claims he did just that. He then reported the gun shots to dispatch and initiated a “code red” lock down on the campus.
NEW: Scot Peterson, former Broward County school resource deputy assigned to Stoneman Douglas High School, hires attorneys to respond to "unfounded criticism of his actions" in response to deadly shooting. https://t.co/6Ul14PHg4u pic.twitter.com/oTEFFmTzYY
— ABC News (@ABC) February 26, 2018
When the first police officer arrived, Peterson told him the shots were coming from outside. That officer also took up a tactical position outdoors, the statement says. It adds that reports claimed the gunshots were near the football field, confirming Peterson’s suspicions.
Peterson also had school administrators go to the video room to locate the shooter on camera, the statement says. When SWAT arrived, he gave them keys to the school building and drew a diagram of the campus.
Ongoing Investigation
In a press conference last Thursday, Sheriff Israel referenced a video that showed Peterson waiting outside the building during the attack. “What I saw was a deputy arrive at the west side of building 12, take up a position,” Israel said. “And he never went in.” When asked what Peterson should have done, Israel replied: “Went in. Addressed the killer. Killed the killer.” He said the footage of Peterson standing outside made him “sick to my stomach. There are no words.”
Florida’s Department of Law Enforcement is currently investigating the actions of Peterson and other deputies.
Israel’s accusations have since been widely reported by news media. President Donald Trump has said Peterson “certainly did a poor job.” Peterson “didn’t react properly under pressure or they were a coward,” Trump said Friday.
Peterson’s statement claims Israel “jumped to a conclusion regarding Mr. Peterson’s performance.” The statement says Peterson will cooperate with the investigation.