Florida Senate votes to remove Broward Sheriff after Parkland shooting

Florida state senators voted Wednesday to permanently remove suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel from his post in response to a 2018 high school shooting. 

The Senate voted 25-15, with most Republicans in favor of removing Israel and most Democrats opposed, according to the Sun Sentinel.{mosads}

The newspaper reported that all five state senators from Broward voted to reinstate Israel despite the wishes of parents of the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) suspended Israel earlier this year after the law enforcement officer was criticized for the way his office handed the Parkland, Fla. shooting that claimed the lives of 17 people.

DeSantis praised the decision in a tweet.

“I thank the Florida Senate for tending to this matter. I hope the outcome provides some measure of relief to the Parkland families that have been doggedly pursuing accountability,” he wrote Wednesday.

I thank the Florida Senate for tending to this matter. I hope the outcome provides some measure of relief to the Parkland families that have been doggedly pursuing accountability.

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 23, 2019

State Sen. Perry Thurston (D), who represents parts of Broward, told the Sun Sentinel that he’s “not disregarding” the Parkland parents, but “95 percent of Broward County feels differently about the attempt to remove the sheriff.”