A Broward County, Fla., Sheriff’s deputy assigned to protect the building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where 17 people were shot to death last month has been suspended for taking a nap in his patrol car.
The Miami Herald reports that Deputy Moises Carotti has been suspended with pay while an internal affairs investigation is carried out. The sheriff's office says that just after 5 p.m. Monday a student notified another officer on campus that Carotti was sleeping in his car.
“The sergeant responded to the marked patrol vehicle, which was parked on the Northwest corner of the 1200 building,” the sheriff's office wrote in a news release. “He knocked on the window to get Carotti’s attention, who appeared to be sleeping.”
Another officer was sent to replace Carotti. He had been patrolling the north perimeter of the 1200 building — the same building where 32 people were shot during a rampage last month.
On Feb. 14, former student Nikolas Cruz walked into the 1200 building and fired at students with an AR-15 assault rifle. When he was done, 17 people were killed and 15 others were injured.
Also on Tuesday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott requested that “immediate action” be taken to place a law enforcement officer at every entry point into the Stoneman Douglas High. Scott says that if officers aren’t immediately available, the state will help in the interim.
“The state is willing to provide assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol until a more permanent safety plan can be put in place,” the governor said.
Broward Sheriff Scott Israel responded on Twitter that he welcomes the state's assistance.
