The 39 calls over the last few years to BSO that were publicized were from the Cruz residence to 911. It’s likely various detectives responded. I think that 2 cops in particular handled multiple calls from Mrs. Cruz.
The calls that I referred to are to the Crime-stopper’s Broward Tip line. The HS SRO was assigned the incoming calls from the Broward tip line about Cruz’s intent to shoot-up the place.
The deputy at the school should have been notified. This kid should have been high up on his list of people to keep tabs on. So I have no problem with that. That’s where it ends though. It’s not his place to do an evaluation work-up on that kid. Once the kid has left his school, his hands on work should be done, other than kicking him off campus if he was fortunate to spot him on campus. I can’t believe that he would be able to prevent that kid from coming on campus, and that’s why it was so vitally important for some entity other than this guy to make a referral.
Still, it baffles me with all the contact with this kid and his family, the terrible threats that had been made, the tips that had been called in, WHY WASN’T THIS KID REFERRED TO THE JUVENILE CHILDREN’S SERVICES DIVISION, AND FORCED INTO PSYCH EVALUATION?
Any kid that comes into contact with the police is subject to this sort of thing, if there are clear warning signs.
As a kid I ran away from home at one point. My parents were having some fierce verbal exchanges that pushed me to my wits end, and I took action. I went to my aunt’s home 120 miles away on the bus.
Our home was referred to counseling on the very first incident.
Once in counseling, this kid could have been evaluated for more serious problems, and with calls coming in saying he was going to kill people, you don’t ignore that sort of thing.
To try to lay this off on the deputy on campus, as the Sheriff seems to have tried to do, boggles the mind.
Once the kid is out of his school, what is the deputy on campus supposed to do, to prevent more trouble?
The sheriff’s department seems to have dropped the ball. Th FBI dropped the ball.