Under Florida law, the governor can suspend elected officials for criminal activity, misfeasance, incompetence or neglect of duty.
The removal of Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel
has been expected since the new governor was sworn in. While campaigning, DeSantis said he would have dismissed Israel for his role in the deadly shooting.
"Sheriff Israel has repeatedly failed and has demonstrated a pattern of poor leadership," DeSantis said in a statement."He failed to protect Floridians and visitors during the tragic Fort Lauderdale International Airport shooting in 2017. He failed in his duties to keep our families and children safe during the devastating shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb.14, 2018. These incidents demonstrate Sheriff Israel's repeated incompetence and neglect of duty," DeSantis continued.
"For these reasons, I am suspending Sheriff Israel from office effective immediately," he wrote. |