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According to Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, the armed resource deputy never entered the school to try to engage the shooter during the attack which lasted six minutes. CNN reports the following: "Peterson [the resource officer] resigned after he was suspended without pay by Israel pending an internal investigation into his actions during the shooting that left 17 people dead, Israel said."
I find it interesting that this is not a bigger story right now. Every one is playing politics on the gun issue which isn't surprising but the real story here is we had an armed police officer on scene as the shooting took place and he didn't do his job which, doubtlessly, cost lives. I think we need competent security at schools who are actually willing to respond to threats as they arise. I don't know who this man as a person or what his reasons were but if he is unwilling to put his life on the line he was in the wrong profession.
We know that when confronted with armed resistance (form police or otherwise) these mass shooters often flee. I will not argue for or against arming teachers, concealed carry, or anything like that here because that is not what this post about. It is worth pointing out, however, that there was a person who should have tried to intervene and chose to wait in safety instead. Could he have saved lives? It is hard to say for sure but apparently his department and he, himself, thought so.
As shameful as his actions seem, at this point, I will still withhold judgment because I have never found myself in his position. I like to think that I would the selfless thing and try to help but you can never know until it happens.