Senate Special Master's Report Recommends Reinstatement for Scott Israel, Special Session Planned

WFSU | By Ryan Dailey

Published September 25, 2019 at 5:18 PM EDT

Scott Israel, former Broward County Sheriff speaks during a news conference on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Davie, Fla. A Florida Senate official is recommending that the sheriff, suspended over his handling of shootings at a Parkland high school and the Fort Lauderdale airport, should be reinstated.

Florida Senate special master Dudley Goodlette is recommending suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel be reinstated. That’s after Israel appealed his suspension by Governor Ron DeSantis in June during a two-day hearing.

The suspension was based on incompetence and negligence alleged by DeSantis in the wake of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Senate President Bill Galvano has called a special session beginning the week of October 21 to vote on whether Israel will ultimately be removed or reinstated.

Israel said this of his suspension, which he maintains is “politically motivated,” in June:

“It’s the wrong decision. I’m committed to fulfilling my term and not vacating my responsibility to the people in Broward County – to the community that I serve and fell in love with”

DeSantis suspended Israel via executive order as one of his first moves after taking office at the beginning of this year. But Goodlette, in his recommendation, says DeSantis has not shown Israel’s policies and training were inconsistent with state law enforcement standards.