Broward superintendent now admits Parkland shooter was admitted to PROMISE Program

cruz

After months of denials to politicians and media members (including this reporter), WLRN’s Jessica Bakeman reports that Broward County Public School officials now acknowledge Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz had been admitted to the PROMISE Program before he carried out his February massacre.

Some background: After the Valentine’s Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where 17 people were killed, it was widely reported that the shooter had several prior instances of criminal behavior, including threats to other students, that did not end in his arrest.

Experts have said Cruz could have been charged for at least some of these offenses. That may have allowed authorities to confiscate Cruz’s guns before the shooting, or at the very least put him under surveillance.

That left many in the community wondering how school and law enforcement officials missed so many signs leading up to this tragedy?

One possible explanation was Broward County’s PROMISE Program. An agreement, which you can view here, was made between Broward County Public Schools and several law enforcement agencies, including the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office.

The goal of the program is to reduce the arrest rate of students for certain misdemeanors by disciplining them within the school system. According to the agreement, “arrests and referrals to the criminal justice system may decrease a student’s chance of graduation, entering higher education, joining the military, and getting a job.”

The goal of protecting students’ futures is a noble one. But was it possible the program allowed Cruz to slip through the cracks by keeping him out of the criminal justice system?

The answer from Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) was a resounding “no.”

WLRN’s report details many of those denials, including a quote from Broward Superintendent Robert Runcie that Cruz “had no connection to the PROMISE program.” He called any reports suggesting otherwise a “fictitious narrative.”

Sen. Marco Rubio also says: “I was repeatedly told that the Parkland shooter was never in the [PROMISE] Program I was asking questions about.” There were similar denials after contacting BCPS for previous reporting on this story.

Now, BCPS admits to Bakeman that Cruz was in fact placed in the PROMISE Program after vandalizing a bathroom while attending middle school in 2013. Spokeswoman Tracy Clark noted Cruz did not attend the required three-day disciplinary measure.

Anthony Borges, a victim of the Parkland shooting, has attempted to have prosecutors and defense attorneys disqualified from the Cruz case because their offices were parties to PROMISE. As of now, that motion has been denied but is being appealed. Borges has also filed a separate civil suit.

Broward school board members said at a recent meeting they don’t plan on getting rid of the PROMISE Program. A 16-member commission has been put together to both investigate the lead-up to the shooting and find a way to prevent future tragedies.

Ryan Nicol

Ryan Nicol covers news out of South Florida for Florida Politics. Ryan is a native Floridian who attended undergrad at Nova Southeastern University before moving on to law school at Florida State. After graduating with a law degree he moved into the news industry, working in TV News as a writer and producer, along with some freelance writing work. If you'd like to contact him, send an email to [email protected].


2 comments

  • Mary Jo Pezzi

    May 7, 2018 at 12:13 pm

    Far more disturbing to me is the fact that Cruz was proud of his membership on an elite sharp-shooting team at the school, funded by the NRA (of course) that helped him to hone his skills as a marksman and validate his obsession with guns. Given the number of times family had to call police due to his angry outbursts, I don’t know how this kid should have been picked to be one of a team of four to showcase their sharp-shooting. His JROTC leader encouraged the 350 cadets at Douglas to wear their uniforms and T-shirts – with the motto “Whatever It Takes” over the heart – or risk demerits. Cruz was wearing his JROTC shirt when he was arrested after killing 17 students and staff.

  • Leslie

    May 7, 2018 at 12:21 pm

    Qualification please of what you are saying? I cannot find proof to your statement anywhere on the Internet and believe me it would be all over the place if it was true.

Comments are closed.


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