Florida Senate opens session to decide fate of Broward sheriff.

[Wingnut]

TALLAHASSEE
Emotions were high and security tight Monday as the Florida Senate convened a three-day special session to decide whether or not to uphold Gov. Ron DeSantis’ suspension of Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel.

At an early morning press conference, the parents of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting victims urged Israel to withdraw his petition asking the Florida Senate to reinstate him to his post.

“Mr. Israel, you have drug our families back through all of the emotions and pain of Feb. 14,’’ said Ryan Petty, father of Alaina, 14, who was slain in the 2018 shooting. “Do the honorable thing. Withdraw your petition and resign. Don’t drag the Florida Senate through this. Don’t drag the state through this. Don’t drag Broward County through this and leave.”

The Senate has scheduled an 11-hour meeting of the Rules Committee to hear the testimony and make a recommendation to the full Senate, which will vote Wednesday.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article236479808.html

[Wingnut]

The vote happened yesterday and as expected the vote came down along party lines.  Still, it upheld his being fired!

Good news.

After hours of debate filled with gripping, emotional details about the Marjory Stoneman Douglas massacre and soaring rhetoric about constitutional rights and the weighty responsibilities of elected officials, the Florida Senate voted Wednesday to remove suspended Broward Sheriff Scott Israel.

The 25-15 vote was mostly along party lines with Republicans, who are a majority in the Senate and loyal to the Republican governor, generally supporting removal while most Democrats voted to reinstate the Democratic sheriff. All five Broward senators voted for reinstatement, despite the wishes of Parkland parents.

Israel, whose leadership was seen as so flawed by the governor and family members of Parkland victims that it contributed to some of the 17 deaths and 17 injuries, has been out off office since Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended him in January.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-ne-scott-israel-florida-senate-decision-20191023-rcyhd7ufcfft5dd3ixwxyuohba-story.html

[PeteS in CA]

Apparently, the several state senators, all Dems, whose districts include parts of Broward all voted to retain Scott Israel. I cannot understand voting to retain an incompetent in such a vital role.

[mystery-ak]

Florida Senate votes to permanently remove sheriff criticized for Parkland shooting response
by Zachary Halaschak
 | October 24, 2019 01:15 PM



The Florida Senate voted to permanently remove suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel from office after he was roundly criticized for his department’s response to the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The Senate on Wednesday voted 25-15 to oust Israel, who Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended in January. The vote was largely along party lines, with three Democrats voting for it and one Republican voting against the move.

DeSantis, who promised during his 2018 gubernatorial campaign to remove Israel, said he hopes the decision “provides some measure of relief to the Parkland families that have been doggedly pursuing accountability.”

Israel, who was first elected in 2012, has said he will run again in 2020. He claims that the move was political in nature.

“Your vote has been stolen and the results of our 2016 election have been overturned,” Israel said in a statement. “From 450 miles away, the governor substituted his judgment for yours and installed his own sheriff in Broward County.”

more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/florida-senate-votes-to-permanently-remove-sheriff-criticized-for-parkland-shooting-response

[Bigun]

Florida Senate votes to permanently remove sheriff criticized for Parkland shooting response

Excellent!