Sun Sentinel:
Many have called him a coward, but former sheriff’s deputy Scot Peterson had no legal duty to stop the slaughter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, his attorneys say.
Peterson took shelter rather than confront the killer, but he did not act with malice or bad faith, according to his attorneys, Michael Piper and Christopher Stearns of Fort Lauderdale. Therefore he can’t be held legally responsible for the deaths, they say in court documents.
Allegations against Peterson suggest only that he “opted for self-preservation over heroics,” the attorneys wrote.
The statements came in a motion seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Andrew Pollack, the father of 18-year-old Meadow Pollack, who was killed in the shooting.
[ … ]
Peterson’s lawyers say police officers are responsible for injury only if the officer takes control of a situation and people are hurt as a result or if the officer creates risk.
A Florida statute gives immunity to officers for injury suffered as a result of what they do while on the job unless they acted in bad faith or exhibited “wanton and willful disregard of human rights, safety, or property, ” the attorneys say.
I told you so. There is a difference between cowardice or irresponsibility and legal culpability. An officer who does something like that isn’t a man and should be shamed until he leaves the earth.
But he isn’t legally required to assist. Period. We’ve seen that before with Castle Rock versus Gonzales and Warren versus the District of Columbia. The attorneys didn’t even have to get there because Florida law protects LEOs.
Now. I want every gun controller out there to queue up and tell me how I should relinquish my guns because the cops will protect me and my family.
Go ahead. I’m waiting. Let’s hear it. Bring it.
