Parkland school cop Scot Peterson, who allegedly fled shooting, found not guilty on all counts

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Thu Jun 29, 2023, 04:30 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: ABC News

The former Parkland, Florida, resource officer accused of failing to confront the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter who killed 14 students and three staff members in 2018 has been found not guilty on all counts.

Scot Peterson, 60, was charged in 2019 with multiple counts of child neglect after an internal investigation found that he retreated while students were under attack. Prosecutors accused Peterson, a 30-year veteran of the Broward Sheriff's Office, of making a false statement, claiming that he did not hear gunshots.

Peterson could be seen sobbing with his head on the table after the verdicts were read by the judge. Peterson, who was fired after the probe report was released, had pleaded not guilty. After the verdict, Peterson told reporters the only one person to blame for the tragedy was "that monster," referring to the gunman. "In any type of incident, do your due diligence and look at the facts," Peterson said.

Kristen Gomes, an assistant state attorney at the Broward County State Attorney's Office, said during closing arguments that Peterson didn't do anything to search for the shooter and confront him. "When the defendant ran, he left behind an unrestricted killer who spent the next four minutes and 15 seconds wandering the halls at his leisure. Because when Scot Peterson ran, he left them in a building with a predator unchecked," she said.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/parkland-school-cop-scot-peterson-allegedly-fled-shooting/story?id=100392688

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Article updated.

Original article -

The ex-Parkland, Florida, resource officer accused of failing to confront the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter who killed 14 students and three staff members in 2018 has been found not guilty on all counts.

Scot Peterson, 60, was charged in 2019 with multiple counts of child neglect after an internal investigation found that he retreated while students were under attack. Prosecutors accused Peterson, a 30-year veteran of the Broward Sheriff's Office, of making a false statement, claiming that he did not hear gunshots.

Peterson could be seen sobbing with his head on the table after the verdicts were read by the judge. Peterson, who was fired after the probe report was released, had pleaded not guilty.

Kristen Gomes, an assistant state attorney at the Broward County State Attorney's Office, said during closing arguments that Peterson didn't do anything to search for the shooter and confront him. "When the defendant ran, he left behind an unrestricted killer who spent the next four minutes and 15 seconds wandering the halls at his leisure. Because when Scot Peterson ran, he left them in a building with a predator unchecked," she said.

[brush]

1. Just like the Uvalde cops, he'll never live it down.

[Bettie]

23. He was only one guy

there were so many at Uvalde.

If the many cops at Uvalde were afraid to go in...well, I think that probably influenced this verdict.

[brush]

24. Different situation. The other cops at this incident didn't hang back...

and hide. They took precautions and moved in to contain the situation. You know, they did their job.

[regnaD kciN]

2. Not surprising...

As hard as it may be to believe, previous court decisions have held that law enforcement is under no obligation to protect the lives of bystanders.

[Lasher]

18. You're right.

They are technically obliged to protect those who are in their custody, but not otherwise. "Protect and Serve" is just a motto, not a legal obligation.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

3. You're on your own, kids!

[Frasier Balzov]

4. The State of Florida wanted him to run toward the gunfire.

The State of Florida also does everything it can to promote the proliferation guns and ammunition in the hands of the public.

These are contradictory policy objectives.

[sarisataka]

5. Really the only charge they had a chance

Was making a false statement.

[obamanut2012]

6. Good, Broward Sheriff and Parkland PD used him as a scapegoat

The brave boys in blue stood there and did nothing until Coral Springs PD showed up. The Parkland cops and Broward deputies did nothing, then started pointing the finger at Peterson.

The CCTV had a lag, a big one, no one was answering the RSO's calls for help, he had no idea where anyone was because of the lag, and had a pistol. It sucks, but I do not fault him. I fault the Parkland PD and Broward Sheriff's DEpartment.

I know people who work there and at the District level. It is known Peterson was used as the scapegoat, because someone had to pay, and it wasn't the school suits or the other LEOs.

[spike jones]

7. "Because the cops don't need you And man they expect the same." Bob Dylan n/t

[hibbing]

8. + 1

[purr-rat beauty]

9. I think this is a legit ruling

when there's a shooter most anyone's first reaction would be to find cover.

His relationship with the kids was probably not as intimate as the teachers so his flight response probably much higher than his fight response

I work in healthcare and we are taught to take care of ourselves first, we have vulnerable patients and would likely do our best to help provide cover but who knows when the horror of it is happening right in front of your eyes.

[TTOMMCCATT]

10. The True Face of Policing Today

When facing an armed assailant/person of interest the police almost always pull back and set up a perimeter. But when facing an unarmed "criminal/person of color" they are brave and courageous while they empty their guns into the back of their bodies.

[genxlib]

11. I know this won't be popular

But this seems correct.

Being a hero is extraordinary but it isn't mandatory.

Not doing your job is grounds for dismissal but not for prison.

Cowardice is shameful but not illegal.

I am heavily involved in search and rescue and I know a lot of heroes. They all are heroes going in but even then, some get cold feet when the shit gets real. The reality is that the kind of heroism that requires the potential to be killed yourself is really quite rare.

Anyone who armchair quarterbacks what should have happened or what they would have done is mostly full of shit.

[NH Ethylene]

12. Well stated.

As I said the other day, I didn't see how this could be a criminal act.

What he did was cowardly and shameful. But is it an actual crime to fail to run into a burning building (so to speak) to save people when there is a pretty good chance you will wind up dead?

[Kaleva]

19. +1

[Tumbulu]

26. agree (nt)

[moniss]

13. The jury may have done this

but he will always be nothing more than a coward with a gun who ran and let children die to save himself. Never anything more.

[Orangepeel]

25. which is the appropriate punishment

[Torchlight]

14. He successfully accomplished the minimum required work to still be considered human.

Congratulation. He'll be a hero with the 'pro-life' crowd.

[sdfernando]

15. "pro-life" crowd...what an oxymoron that is!

Agree with you assessment of this guy as well.

[Mawspam2]

17. Was this school cop armed with more than a .32?

Was he supplied a vest? Did he look like RoboCop? Do you really want school cops armed and armored to the teeth in your schools? I don't.

Should he have attempted to find and pin down the shooter? Yes. Was he out-matched? Yes. Can we expect a school cop to commit on-the-job suicide? No.

Apart from the perjury, not guilty. He is not to blame for those kids dying, the asshole shooter Cruz and the Florida State government are for letting Cruz have those weapons. Focus on that.

[Tumbulu]

27. agree (nt)

[Kennah]

20. No rifle, no vest, no shield, and no backup

Almost 40 years ago, 2 FBI agents died in a shooting in Miami. FBI undertook an investigation, and among their conclusions were to arm cops with ammunition that penetrates deeper and if going against criminals armed with long guns to arm oneself with long guns.

[Tommy Carcetti]

21. Not making excuses for any inaction on his part, but he was a scapegoat

You had an 18 year old with a history of mental issues freely able to buy an AR-15 with no problems.

That’s where things broke down in this story. Long before Scot Peterson.

The real problem here can be spelled out N-R-A.

[Tumbulu]

28. absolutely, shame on the whole bizarro system

and not on one guy who was woefully outgunned.

[lark]

22. Shame, shame, shame!

This really makes me worry about tfg getting justice, stupid redneck jury. It makes me really worry about our country, now it's open hunting season on all of us and cops are not being held responsible for doing their job. All too often,They just kill when they feel like it and there's no real threat and run like the fucking chickens they are when shit gets real!

I am totally disgusted!