This is actually one of those small stories with BIG, very big potential. Broward County School Superintendent Robert Runcie was arrested this morning on a charge of perjury in an official proceeding. Broward School Board attorney Barbara Myrick was also arrested.
According to local news {LINK} Runcie gave testimony about how official school district programs were being implemented (aka “The Promise Program“) and whether any of the financial incentives were used by district officials for personal gain.
The details are vague as the media reporting on the arrest are slight; however, the backstory is something CTH has some strong information about due to our years of research into Miami-Dade and Broward County school systems – going all the way back to Trayvon Martin and the corrupt internal school administration practices we helped expose. First, the current events:
FLORIDA – […] Runcie, 59, was taken into custody by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and has since been released from the Broward County Main Jail. According to his indictment, Runcie lied under oath between the dates of March 31 and April 1 while testifying under oath to a state grand jury.
The grand jury was investigating the following, according to the indictment:
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Whether refusal or failure to follow the mandates of school-related safety laws, such as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Act, results in unnecessary and avoidable risk to students across the state;
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Whether public entities committed and continue to commit fraud and deceit by accepting state funds conditioned on implementation of certain safety measures while knowingly failing to act.
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Whether school officials committed and continue to commit fraud and deceit by mismanaging, failing to use, and diverting funds from multimillion dollar bonds specifically solicited for school safety initiatives; and
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Whether school officials violated and continue to violate systematically underreporting incidents of criminal activity to the Department of Education.
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How exactly the superintendent allegedly perjured himself during the investigation is not known at this time.
Myrick, meanwhile, was arrested on a charge of unlawful disclosure of statewide grand jury proceedings for the “knowingly and unlawfully public, broadcast, disclose or communicate to another person outside the statewide grand jury room any of the proceedings.” (read more)
The emphasis on the fourth bullet-point above is mine; because my hunch is THAT’S the key issue that Broward School Board administration can never let reach sunlight. If people knew the details about how ‘diversionary programs‘ were used to keep school-aged youth out of the criminal justice system; those details could lead to a much larger national issue about the diversionary programs themselves.
Students engaged in very criminal behavior in both Miami-Dade and Broward County, were never held criminally accountable. Instead the “Promise Program”, and other programs of a similar nature, used school discipline to replace the criminal justice system. Students engaged in drug offenses, burglary and some other even more serious offenses were intentionally diverted away from the criminal justice system (police, courts etc.) and instead were suspended from school.
Perhaps the Florida grand jury is finally investigating the severity of corruption within these Florida diversionary programs (that are now national). Here’s a background explanation as CTH shared in 2018 after the Parkland School shooting.
FEBRUARY 2018 – […] Nothing about the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was based on structural incompetence; the horrific event was an entirely predictable outcome of intentionally followed policy.
In April of 2012 Jesse Jackson began to promote the principle: “we must stop suspending our students”. Three months later, in July of 2012, President Obama signed an executive order establishing the basic outline of what later came to be known in Broward County as “The Promise Program“.
President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder created the financial carrots. In 2013 Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel and a hired Chicago transplant, School Superintendent Robert Runcie, simply formalized and executed the policy.
2011 – Runcie has strong ties to Arne Duncan, the current U.S. Secretary of Education, who gave Runcie his start in the education sector.
Duncan, former Chicago schools chief tapped Runcie in 2003 to join his management team as chief information officer. Runcie was charged with bringing order to a technology department marred with delays in installing school computers funded through a federal grant. Duncan was listed as one of Runcie’s references in his application packet to the board.
Some are hopeful that Runcie’s connection to the Obama administration through Duncan will draw some benefits to the district and raise Broward’s profile in the national discourse on school reform. Throughout his interviews, Runcie said he wants Broward to serve as a national model for what’s done right. (read more)
Sheriff Israel and Superintendent Ruchie’s implementation of the Broward Promise Program was easy; just stop arresting students and the statistics would be great. As the statistics improve so too does the financial reward from federal grant monies.
While Sheriff Israel and Superintendent Runcie were garnering praise for the results of their program, Parkland school student Nikolas Cruz was a simultaneous benefactor as his anti-social and violent behaviors were being ignored.
This is a simple cause and effect. There are no mistakes being made here. This is entirely by design; as author Jack Cashill noted, this is not “incompetence“, it’s strategic. The fact that Nikolas Cruz was able to exit high school without a police record, then began amassing weapons, and eventually became a school shooter killing 17 students and staff; is an outcome of strategic policy, not incompetence.
While Nikolas Cruz was being ‘handled’ and not documented. The Sheriff’s police force was conducting diversity training seminars, de-escalation meetings, and sensitivity training exercises. The last active shooter training was somewhere around 2006. As a person within Broward law enforcement stated:
[beginning in 2013] “major change in policy & procedure as well as dismantling of proactive enforcement units in favor of community policing squads whose sole purpose is not enforcement. We paint houses, pick up trash, conduct summer camps for kids & giveaway presents on Christmas.”
For an example of Sheriff Scott Israel’s priorities SEE VIDEO HERE.
However, in the aftermath of the horrific shooting; and as people outside Broward County now begin to understand the dangerous political apparatus behind the policy; DO NOT expect to see any reform or change.
There is no actual mechanism to stop Broward county officials from carrying out their ideological objectives. Social Justice has replaced Law Enforcement. The sheriff is essentially untouchable until his next election – which he will likely again win easily; the School Superintendent is protected by the political apparatus willing to sacrifice a few dozen residents to retain the ideology; the school board and county officials are all part of the political apparatus; the mayors are appointed not elected; the district attorneys are all-in on the program; and the judges come from the ranks of the attorneys…. so, don’t expect changes.
Inside Broward County Florida schools blood can be washed away and carpets can be changed, but the political ideology and civic institutional goals are always protected.
If you think the federal government could step in to reduce the risk of violence, think again. The U.S. federal Department of Justice has an entire suite of lawyers assembled just to protect these localized regions from intervention. An activist Civil Rights Division is replete with social justice defenders, there will be no help from the DOJ.
The rapid response group within the federal government is the secretive Community Relations Service. If you think the FISA abuse scandal revealed political ideology within the DOJ National Security Division, well, the DOJ-NSD pales in comparison to the DOJ-CRS.
It’s the DOJ Community Relations Service who activates and organizes the marches on behalf of the local officials. The CRS is 100% full of social justice advocates who are trained specifically for the mission of protecting progressive community leaders from constituent backlash. As CTH met with and researched the secretive CRS in 2012 and 2013 we affectionately named them the “tamp-down/ramp-up” federal group.
The CRS exists to ‘tamp-down’ any backlash to their ideological goals, and ‘ramp-up’ antagonism against political opposition or narratives adverse to their interests.
As I outlined in 2018: “Give it a few more days and everyone will move on. This is not my cynicism, this is the reality of my having seen -first hand- the scale of the political machine that creates and defends outcomes like the Parkland School shooting.” Well, perhaps, just perhaps, this grand jury in Florida was looking into these issues and Robert Runcie is on the path to accountability….
We will keep watching !
Joe Biden, President Obama and Ed Secretary Arnie Duncan ~ These three, together with Eric Holder and Valerie Jarrett created the racially explosive diversionary system called “My Brother’s Keeper”…
That’s a ‘5’ head not a forehead.
Dude looks like FroZone.
Yet not as cool.
I’ll bet it’s done just like this in many many school districts across the country.
A lot of these SJW “administrators” ought to be put in jail and asset stripped.
This is a simple cause and effect. There are no mistakes being made here. This is entirely by design; as author Jack Cashill noted, this is not “incompetence“, it’s strategic. The fact that Nikolas Cruz was able to exit high school without a police record, then began amassing weapons, and eventually became a school shooter killing 17 students and staff; is an outcome of strategic policy, not incompetence.
Dear Sundance,
I think what we have here by this assertion made by Mr. Cashill is a direct challenge to your prior statements about, “Never underestimate those in power not wanting to know the true scope on issues.”
On its face, I whole hearty agree with your assessment that elected public figures are playing a game of willful blindness.
Where I disagree with your assertion is in the implied WHY?
In my experience the WHY can be addressed by the following observation.
“Willful Blindness allows elected officials to employ risk management provided by staffers.”
By not knowing things, or more importantly by not choosing to know things, the handers and staffers can walk any given politician through the morass on any given situation as it arises.
Hence/since a given politician has no knowledge of and/or position on.
One even could even say the prime job description of any chief of staff is to assess and protect a given politician from the fall out of prior knowledge.
The phrase blow dried cheap suits certainly does comes to mind.
Meaning, by, “Knowing” implies an inherent risk.
Be assured I am describing a circular logic, or self fulfilling exercise on the subject of willful blindness.
“Not to know things pans out as a great advantage for public officials.”
It allows politicians to position themselves.
Having said all that, “I agree totally with Sundance’s implied claim about willful blindness.
It is the Why?, that concerns me.
Sundance has never elaborated that greatly on willful blindness within the Federal Government other than state it exists as a major factor as to why the Big Ugly goes no where and unanswered. Very often followed up with ‘Trillons at Stake’ remarks.
That Sundance has not staked a definite claim as to WHY willful blindness exists?
IMHO, willful blindness exists because…
That within Washington DC circles, the over riding governing factor is CYA and more importantly CYA of those above you as the operating SOP!!!
Look, Sundance is a big boy. In the past, when I have attempted constructive criticism, my message has failed in that I am met with, ‘How dare you.”
All I am saying, given the opening quote from the blogged article, “Willful blindness arguments have a built in falicy of asserted acceptance that never dwell into the why therefores.
Clearly, the assertion made by Mr Cashill challenges that presumption.
To me… I am asserting, that Sundance is 100% on point about willful blindness within the Federal Government.
And clearly while, Sundance has never staked a position as to the WHY therefores on why willful blindness exists other than it does.
My appreciation of this factor aligns with a decidedly chosen path to present, rather than tell us what to think.
Before any naysayers thatjump in with how dare you. I say pound salt.
Stop and think about it.
Sundance may very well understand the deep state issues to such a degree, “He has to thread the needle and still see away forward into the future.”
Look, I am not claiming any precognitive as to what Sundance reports, but clearly if Sundance’s position is that politicians operate in envelope of willful blindness of not knowing things…
Than just how does that comport with Mr. Cashill assertions.
What MY rhetorical ARGUMENT comes down to, is if Mr.Sundance’s claims on willful blindness are very much on track towards an over whelming portion of politicians.
What potion of politicians ARE NOT playing that game and are very much aware of the societal ramifications of CONSTRUED OUTCOMES hiding behind the convenient argument of willful blindness that enables grand standing.
Clearly Mr. Cashill’s position is very much supportive of my assertion.
An assertion, that is implying that willfully blindness affords those that comprise the political operative class to fly under the radar.
Look, I am just providing food for thought here.
But clearly, Mr. Cashill is ascertaining that at some level of the willful blindness culture there exist those that are GAMING the blindness.
In essence, “They know what they are doing!”
Read between the lines of my assertions and the scope of the blogged article to form your own opinion.
The “WHY” is political corruption via another avenue of money flow to a states bureaucracy. ALWAYS follow the money. ALWAYS. Once the locals feed from the Federal trough, you own them. It’s that simple.
So how does this sort of investigation even start? I wonder who all he disclosed the grand jury material to, and if that this will help authorities broaden their search, or if it will just allow people to get off. I’d love to see DeSantis get behind the push to root out all related corruption…
Ron DeSantis started it by calling for an investigation of the MSD shooting. Local news tonight (BrowCo) said more indicments are likely to be forthcoming.
It is good to see that a grand jury can actually accomplish something. It reminds me that we are still waiting for something from the supposed grand juries empaneled by what’s-his-name, Derwood…Derbin…Doolittle…Doobie…? It’s been so long I forgot his name.
I suspect that Gov. DeSantis had something to do with this.
Genie, I believe you’re thinking of Durham, the ephemeral glimmer of a dim reflection of a Huber.
In my city and school district the “school resource officer” would hug, complete with gang signals, the biggest drug dealer in the school. She also threatened and harassed a white girl after a Basketball game for no reason other than she didn’t jump when told to move it outside.
She’s quite the racist and has been promoted within the police department twice since then. That was 6 years ago or so. Disgusting.
So, the County spends LESS $, by implementing the “Promise” program, in several ways; police NOT investigating the crimes, offenders not incarcerated in jail, and Courts not conducting trials.
The only “expence” is schools operating the same “after school detention” programs they operated before, but with a different name, and attendance optional….
Police, instead of active shooter training sessions, have sensitivity training,…
And yet the Federal government GIVES them millions of $, as an insentive to spend less $?
And, is it JUST a coincidence that Broward County was, until the 2020 election, a longtime election fraud gold medal county.
Was the whole “Promise” program a smokescreen, to funnel Federal $’s to County officials, to finance election fraud?
Wouldn’t surprise me, one bit,..
Money and Monsters, what’s not to hate?
What is taking place in WI is the movement of these trouble making students are processed through “school choice”. The school choice program was established for students to transfer to a school or district that offers programs (classes) that were not available in their home districts. There was an open enrollment period and districts had caps on the number of students they could accept each year. That has now changed to any school any time. The school administrators who would normally suspend of expel a student give notice and then the student and parents go school shopping. It is never difficult to find the progressive districts that will take them with closed eyes. This is taking place in our current district. The school administration is using it as a budget tool as every transfer comes with state funds. Then if and most are from low income families they get food program subsidies. This has turned the schools into a very unsafe environment for the other children as some theses kids are down right criminals. Go to a board meeting and ask them why test scores are plummeting and you get every excuse in the world, ask why teachers are leaving and same. I pulled both my kids out and have sent to private schools. Wish state legislatures would allow for my school taxes to follow my children.
Is Our Educrats Learning?
Every single level of government failed those children at Marjorie Stoneman-Douglas.
The Principal’s office.
The School Board.
The Teacher’s union and the NAACP.
The County Sheriffs office.
Child Protective Services.
Obama’s PermaBlob Department of Education and DOJ who are back even worse than ever, tho’ they never went away.
They all failed. Any one of them could have prevented this shooting had they taken action.
None of them wanted to do the paperwork.
The ComeyMcCabeWray FBI was too busy trying to frame the President to answer frantic callers from Marjorie Stoneman-Douglas. 17 dead kids and they didn’t even miss lunch.
After two whistle-blowers revealed the truth, Supt. Robert Runcie was forced to stop lying and admit that Cruz had been sent to the Obama-Holder Hug-a-Thug Program. The Sheriff had also repeated the lie.
Anthony Borges, the 15 year-old hero who used his body to shield others: “You failed us students, teachers and parents alike on so many levels,” he said. “I want to ask you today to please end your [PROMISE] policy and agreement that you will not arrest people commiting crimes in our schools.”
Sorry, Anthony, but Supt. Runcie has absolutely no intention of changing this policy. He loves it and thinks its working just fine. These are the same policies that failed to punish house burglar Trayvon Martin but instead shipped him off to Sanford where he was shot while casing more apartments, as Sundance reported in-depth.
Certainly not every infraction should be criminalized, but this has devolved to a point where officials are covering up crimes to make themselves look better.
Was it a kindness?
Was it a kindness to Treyvon? He’s dead now.
Was it a kindness to Cruz? He’s looking at the electric chair.
Was it a kindness to the 17 dead kids? Or to all the wounded? To their families?
Or even to all those who had been assaulted or robbed by criminal students?
“Thanks, Obama.”
But thanks even more to Gov. DeSantis for pursuing this. It’s almost a miracle to see a crooked Democrat official held to account these days.