'deputy Is A Coward'

[Islay]

To quote Trump the deputy that did not wade into the recent high school shoot 'is at the least a disgrace at the worst a coward'
Now I have recently been watching a series of programs investigating the mass shootings in America and all the trained professionals on there stat that you should not enter as an individual but wait until there are at least 3 armed trained professionals.
So is Trump right is the deputy a coward or a disgrace or did he do the right thing?
The man has now resigned and is being slated by the President - I cannot think what that poor man is going through at them moment.
What are your thoughts please?

[ChillDoubt]

He is a coward. The situation was fluid and changing on a minute-by-minute basis, waiting for backup was not an option. Unarmed teachers were placing themselves in harms way whilst this 'officer' stood idly by.
The officer signed on the dotted line to carry out such duties in extremis or otherwise, it was his duty to at least make some form of intervention or take action, that's the bottom line.

[ducksie]

I doubt he was idle chilldoubt, no matter what you sign up for, he prob thought he got the cushy job that day on the school campus, not knowing the events that were to unfold in his day, instead of training teachers to shoot, the police force should be trained better for instances like this - this man will rue his decisions for the rest of his life I'm sure. If he was waiting for back up as trained to do, what more could he do?

[kvalidir]

This isn't 'Die Hard' you know, this is real life, one guard with a handgun decided to abide by the training he was given and sit tight til he had further armed back up. He didn't know if it was a single person with a gun ( he would have heard it was an automatic) or multiple shooters and he may not have had the benefit of nearly the information he's being credited with and the President of the United States to call him a disgrace and a coward is unacceptable. He's the gun lobby's scapegoat and I hope he sues Trump to high heaven.

[emeritus]

His job is to protect the students. He made no attempt.

[-Talbot-]

I don't think Trump should be calling him a coward.

I do however agree that he is a coward.

[Tilly2]

Easily said.

[Prudie]

I don't think Trump is too afraid to take on the gun lobby he just agrees with them. In fact he doesn't come across as afraid of anything.

[ChillDoubt]

I doubt he was idle chilldoubt
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So what exactly WAS he doing then ducksie? Locked himself in a room awaiting backup? Cleaning his pistol whilst unamred teachers were jumping in front of students being shot?
He failed to carry out the basic duties and responsibilities he was charged with and at the very least is guilty of dereliction of duty.
May as well do as Trump suggests and arm the teachers if the officers can't/won't do their job!

[whiskeryron]

Trump should have been immediately sent for to enter the building, then we would see who is the coward. Like Tony B liar. & George W should have been the first to go into Iraq. There are far too many Firing the first theoretical bullets for someone else to face the actual fighting.

[Baldric]

He had a gun, he choose to not get involved, he chickened out in my opinion,

[ChillDoubt]

Trump should have been immediately sent for to enter the building, then we would see who is the coward.
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Oh dear. Trump took an oath to defend the constitution. The officer no doubt took something similar, along the lines of protecting the welfare of students on campus.
Let's not forget, nobody was press-ganged or conscripted into these jobs, they did so and took up the responsibilities of their own volition.

[bednobs]

for the first time in my life i agree with tlbot

[anneasquith]

Were any of you there ? How many know what they would have done in the same circumstances ? Its easy to condemn via a keyboard. As for Trump, !!!

[ducksie]

I don't know what exactly the man was doing but having listened to teachers and students being interviewed on a news program tonight, once they follow a drill, they all know and keep behind doors etc., less students have a chance of being hit in the crossfire if there was to be crossfire, it's early days and I still don't think this man is a coward.

[ducksie]

Teachers and students from the school in Florida

[Mamyalynne]

To me it seems we are getting mixed messages, Islay's programme tells such individuals to wait for back up.

As the superior of this Deputy has spoken badly of this man then presumably that was not included in his training.

I cannot begin to imagine what those few minutes were like (gladly) but if I were a parent of a student there then I'd have to agree, he should have tried.

[ChillDoubt]

How many know what they would have done in the same circumstances ?
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At the risk of sounding all 'Rambo/pull up a sandbag and I'll tell you a story' I believe those of us who have posted and are ex Forces with a strong sense of duty know what we would have done. The situation dictated it.

[Mamyalynne]

I haven't a clue, and in many emergency situations you don't know until it happens - I am also unaware of what his actual training and duties encompassed.

[ChillDoubt]

From the BBC page on this story:

He said video footage showed Mr Peterson arriving at the building where the shooting broke out about 90 seconds after the first shots were fired, and that he remained outside for about four minutes. The attack lasted six minutes, Sheriff Israel said.

"I am devastated. Sick to my stomach. He never went in," Sheriff Israel said.

Asked what Mr Peterson should have done, Sheriff Israel said: "Went in, addressed the killer, killed the killer."

Mr Peterson is yet to publicly comment on what happened. Officers are reportedly guarding his home. It is unclear if he will face charges.

The suspect used a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, police say, and escaped the scene before being captured later.
What was Deputy Peterson's role?

School resource officers are sworn law enforcement officers who are responsible for safety and crime prevention in schools, although their exact roles differ from school to school and authority to authority.
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As suspected, an armed and sworn law enforcement officer who failed to carry out the basic duties he was charged with on a daily basis. Shame on him.