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Parkland dad rips Gillum for taking support from Broward Sheriff Israel

Israel has been the subject of public and political scorn amid scrutiny of the law enforcement response to the Feb. 14 mass shooting at the Parkland high school
 
Published Sept. 19, 2018

Andrew Pollack, the father of slain Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Meadow Pollack, is ripping gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum for accepting financial support from Broward Sheriff Scott Israel.

Following a Sun-Sentinel report that Israel is among a group of Broward politicians fundraising for the Democratic nominee Friday in Fort Lauderdale, Pollack on Wednesday issued a statement through the Republican Party of Florida in which he partially blamed Israel's "leadership" for his daughter's death. Israel has been the subject of public and political scorn amid scrutiny of the law enforcement response to the Feb. 14 mass shooting at the Parkland high school, during which communications broke down and a BSO deputy waited outside the building where the attack occurred instead of entering and trying to stop the shooter.

Read more: Florida Republicans want the Broward sheriff suspended for neglect of duty. That might be difficult to prove.

Read more: Controversy over Parkland shooting is political and personal for Sheriff Scott Israel

"It is absolutely disgraceful that Andrew Gillum would campaign with Sheriff Israel," Pollack said in a statement. "Gillum is siding with Sheriff Israel above the interests of our students and citizens, making our schools and communities less safe. We need to elect [Republican nominee] Ron DeSantis so people like Sheriff Israel can be held accountable and removed from office."

Pollack, a Republican who supports DeSantis and the U.S. Senate bid of Florida Gov. Rick Scott, has been among the more outspoken Parkland parents on the right. We've reached out to the Gillum campaign, and will update this post if they respond.