SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) - The Latest on the commission investigating the Florida school massacre (all times local):
4:40 p.m.
The commission investigating the Florida high school massacre saw a presentation showing that the sheriff’s deputy assigned to the school stayed outside the building where students and staff were being shot.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission on Wednesday saw a presentation that combined an animation showing the gunman’s and victims’ movements during the Feb. 14 shooting, security video of Broward Sheriff’s Deputy Scot Peterson and recordings of his calls to dispatchers. All have been previously released, but this was the first time they have been shown simultaneously.
It showed that when Peterson arrived outside the three-story building where the massacre occurred, at least six of the 17 killed had not been shot. Peterson stayed outside the building, telling dispatchers that shots were being fired and to close down surrounding streets. Critics say he should have gone into the building to confront the shooter.
Peterson has been subpoenaed to testify before the commission next month.
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3:25 p.m.
The commission investigating the Florida high school massacre is recommending that at least one police officer be assigned to each of the state’s public high and middle schools. But elementary schools could be protected by an armed security guard or non-teaching staff member.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission voted 9-5 Wednesday to approve the recommendation after first overwhelmingly rejecting a proposal that all schools have at least one police officer. Opponents argued that was unrealistic because of the cost and the unavailability of police officers as the state already has thousands of openings for police officers and sheriff’s deputies, without adding the need to staff schools.
Many of the state’s 67 districts already have at least one police officer assigned to every high and middle school.
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11:20 a.m.
The sheriff leading the Florida commission investigating February’s high school massacre said it would cost billions to fully implement a model security plan for the state’s schools.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri told the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission on Wednesday that adding security measures such as high-tech video systems, metal detectors and bullet-proof glass at the state’s 4,200 public schools would cost more than $2 billion.
In addition, placing at least one armed police officer at each campus would cost $400 million annually. Gualtieri said there are 1,350 police officers assigned to schools and some have more than one officer. He said there aren’t enough available police officers in the state to hire enough to fill the gaps.
The commission has been meeting about every four weeks since April. The members include law enforcement, education and mental health officials, a legislator and two parents of victims and they will issue a report by Jan. 1 recommending changes to the Legislature and the next governor.
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9:10 a.m.
The sheriff leading Florida’s probe into the state’s high school massacre says the commission’s investigators have conducted more than 300 interviews.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri told the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission on Wednesday that interviewees have included Broward County sheriff’s officials, Coral Gables police, students and staff at the school and friends, family, neighbors and therapists of suspect Nikolas Cruz. Those interviews are being presented to the commission, which includes law enforcement, education and mental health officials, a legislator and two parents of victims.
Later Wednesday, members will discuss the role of campus police officers and changes to the state’s mental health laws.
Cruz is accused of killing 14 students and three staff members at Stoneman Douglas on Feb. 14. The commission will prepare a report by Jan. 1 on the shooting and what led up to it. It will make recommendations for the Legislature and next governor on changes to law enforcement, schools and the mental health system.
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3:20 a.m.
The Florida commission investigating February’s high school massacre will discuss the role of campus police officers and changes to the state’s mental health laws.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission is scheduled to make recommendations Wednesday on how many school resource officers each campus should have based on enrollment and what the officers’ duties should be.
They also will make recommendations for changing the state law that governs the involuntary commitment of anyone who is mentally ill and potentially dangerous.
The commissioners will discuss the response of Deputy Scot Peterson, who was working at Stoneman Douglas when Nikolas Cruz allegedly killed 17 students and staff members. Video shows the deputy didn’t enter the building where the shooting occurred. Critics say he should have tried to shoot Cruz.
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