Scot Peterson, Alleged Coward of Broward County, Found Not Guilty

Former school resource officer acquitted in Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting trial.

Scot Peterson, the former School Resource Officer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Florida, who gained notoriety as the 'coward of Broward', has been acquitted following a trial that lasted four days. The verdict was reached after six jurors deliberated for more than 19 hours at the Broward County Courthouse. Peterson, 60, was the first law enforcement officer in the United States to be tried in connection with a school shooting. He was accused of failing to confront the Parkland gunman for approximately 45 minutes during the deadliest high school shooting in American history on February 14, 2018. The charges against Peterson included seven counts of felony child neglect and three counts of culpable negligence, all related to the 10 individuals who were either wounded or killed in the attack on the third floor of the high school's 1200 building.

Throughout the trial, Peterson's attorney, Mark Eiglarsh, centered his defense on the testimonies of deputies, teachers, and students who claimed they were unaware of the source of the gunshots. Peterson maintained that there was nothing more he could have done to prevent the shooting, citing the lack of information, the failure of the sheriff's radio system, and the echoing gunfire as factors that hindered his ability to determine the shooter's location.

However, prosecutors presented evidence from other law enforcement officers, teachers, and students who asserted that they knew where Nikolas Cruz was firing his weapon and were perplexed by Peterson's lack of knowledge and decision to flee the scene. Broward County Detective John Curcio, who led the investigation into the massacre, testified that Peterson failed to adhere to the protocols in place for confronting an active shooter during a mass shooting. According to Curcio, Peterson's duty during the chaos was to prevent Cruz from harming others.

It is understandable that Peterson may not have immediately discerned the source of the gunshots. However, the issue lies in the fact that he positioned himself outside with his gun aimed at a wall, making no effort to investigate further. It was his responsibility, as an armed school resource officer, to locate and apprehend the shooter. This would have entailed at least attempting to determine the shooter's whereabouts by entering the buildings. Yet, Peterson did nothing.

As the verdict of not guilty was announced, Peterson broke down in tears. He briefly addressed the court, stating, "The only person to blame was that monster." While it is true that Peterson is not guilty of murder and that Nikolas Cruz is ultimately responsible for his actions, it is crucial to remember that Peterson held a position as an armed school resource officer. The primary objective of his job was to protect the students. He had received training on how to respond to a mass shooting and was aware that the FBI instructs officers to confront and neutralize the shooter as quickly as possible. Despite this knowledge, Peterson failed to take any action. He failed to fulfill his duties to an extent that is difficult to comprehend.

One of the parents who tragically lost a child during the shooting, Tony Montalto, expressed his disappointment in Peterson's actions prior to the verdict. Montalto stated, "The actions of Deputy Peterson were anything but heroic... It was cowardice in action. He retreated from being less than 10 feet from the doors to that building. He had the opportunity to swing that door open and see what was going on inside, to see the carnage, but he chose to run away and take a position of cover."

Regrettably, this is not an isolated incident. Similar failures to follow training and take appropriate action were observed in the case of the Uvalde police officers who stood idle while individuals, both adults and children, bled to death. Most of these officers remain employed and continue to receive salaries despite their failure to fulfill their duties when it truly mattered. They will likely retire with generous pensions, claiming they did their best. This situation is nothing short of a mockery.

In a rare instance of agreement, David Hogg, a prominent figure in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting, echoed the sentiment expressed by Montalto.