Gov. Ron DeSantis removes Broward County Sheriff Israel over failed Parkland massacre response

Cheers arose from a crowd assembled at the Broward County Sheriff's Office when newly elected Governor Ron DeSantis announced Friday that he had signed an executive order to suspend Sheriff Scott Israel over failures in the Parkland massacre response.

Israel has been excoriated for what many consider a failed response to the attack which took 17 lives. In the months after the massacre it was discovered that law enforcement had been given many opportunities to apprehend the killer, and neglected to do so.

DeSantis referred to these failures in his executive order to suspend Israel.

"Effective immediately," he tweeted, "I am officially suspending Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel for his repeated failures, incompetence and neglect of duty."

DeSantis also cited reports that the officers under Israel's command did not immediately confront the killer as the attack was continuing.

Supporters of Israel argued with his detractors while they awaited the announcement from DeSantis.

The newly elected governor was joined in his announcement by parents of some of the Parkland victims.

"The massacre might never have happened had Broward had better leadership in the sheriff's department," DeSantis said in his statement.

The governor appointed former Coral Springs Police sergeant Gregory Tony as Israel's replacement — he will be the first African-American sheriff of Broward County.

Israel spoke to the media after the announcement and claimed that he was fired because he spoke out against the NRA.

Five of Israel's top staffers quit in protest of his suspension before DeSantis' statement.

Here's the video of part of DeSantis' announcement: