A former Florida police officer accused of failing to confront a suspect during a now notorious school shooting, has been arrested on charges of neglect of duty. If convicted, he faces up to almost 100 years in jail.

Scot Peterson, 56, was on duty as the school resource officer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February 2018, but is said to have not directly tried to stop an attack that killed 17 students and staff.

The arrest and charging of Mr Peterson followed a 14-month investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

“The FDLE investigation shows former deputy Peterson did absolutely nothing to mitigate the MSD shooting that killed 17 children, teachers and staff and injured 17 others,” FDLE commissioner Rick Swearingen, said in a statement.

“There can be no excuse for his complete inaction and no question that his inaction cost lives.”

Mass shootings in America Show all 8 1 /8 Mass shootings in America Mass shootings in America Camden shootings – 1949 Howard Unruh killed 13 people, including three children, during a 12-minute walk through his neighborhood on September 6, 1949, in Camden, New Jersey, when he was 28 years old. The incident became known as the "Walk of Death". Unruh was found to be criminally insane and died in 2009 after a lengthy illness at the age of 88, following 60 years of confinement. Alamy Mass shootings in America University of Texas tower shooting – 1966 Charles Whitman killed 17 people and injured 31 others in Austin, Texas. After stabbing his mother and wife the night before, he headed to the University of Texas, where he opened fire on people in the campus and streets from the observation desk. He was shot dead after a policeman and civilian reached the scene. Austin History Center, Austin Public Library Mass shootings in America Easter Sunday Massacre – 1975 James Ruppert killd 11 family members in his mother's house, which included his mother, brother and his wife, as well as their eight children. He used a magnum, two handguns and a rifle. Mass shootings in America Wilkes-Barre shootings – 1982 Former prison guard, George Banks, shot dead 13 people in Pennsylvania, including five of his own children. AP Photo/Times Leader Mass shootings in America Wah Mee massacre – 1983 Three men, Kwan Fai Mak, Wai-Chiu Ng, and Benjamin Ng, killed 13 people who were in Seattle's Wah Mee gambling club. YouTube/KIRO 7 News Mass shootings in America San Ysidro McDonald's massacre – 1984 James Huberty killed 21 people and injured 19 others after he walked in a McDonald's in San Diego. He was shot dead by a sniper after 78 minutes of him entering the restaurant. Alamy Mass shootings in America Palm Sunday massacre – 1984 Ten people were shot dead from handguns at close range in a New York home. A baby girl was the only survivor after convicted dealer, Christopher Thomas, shot three women, one teenage girl and six children in their Brooklyn home. Thomas was convicted of manslaughter and cleared of murder. He was released from prison after 32 years. Mass shootings in America Edmond post office shooting – 1986 Patrick Sherrill, a postal worker at the Edmond post office in Oklahoma, killed 14 co-workers and injured 6 others, before he shot himself. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Collection

Mr Peterson’s lawyers did not immediately comment after their client was detained and charged, and bail was set at $102,000. Previously, they had argued the officer, widely denounced as a coward, had not been obliged to enter the school and risk his own life, and that he had “opted for self-preservation over heroics”.

On Tuesday, relatives of those who died in the shooting again attacked Mr Peterson, who was also fired from his job.

“He should rot, that’s how I feel,” Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, was among those who died, told the Sun-Sentinel. “My daughter was one of the last to be shot. My daughter absolutely could have been saved by him and she wasn’t. I’m pleased an effort is being made for justice here.”

Also killed on the third floor of the high school, was geography teacher and cross-country coach Scott Beigel.

Matt Gaetz tries to kick Parkland parent out of gun violence hearing

“If Scot Peterson had done his job my son would be alive today,” Linda Schulman, Beigel’s mother, told the newspaper. “One hundred-percent had he done something the active shooter would not have made it to the third floor, had he done his job, instead of standing outside like a coward. Had he done his job we wouldn‘t be having this conversation.”

Broward state attorney Mike Satz said Mr Peterson faced child neglect, culpable negligence and perjury charges that carried a combined potential prison sentence of nearly 100 years.

If Mr Peterson applies for bail, he will be required to wear a GPS monitor and surrender his passport. He will also be prohibited from possessing a firearm, the prosecutor said.

Nikolas Cruz , 20, faces the death penalty if convicted of the first-degree murder charges filed in the attack. His lawyers have said Mr Cruz would plead guilty in return for a life sentence, but prosecutors have refused that offer. He is expected to go on trial in early 2020.

The shooting triggered national outrage and inspired survivors of the incident to launch a campaign to try and force a change to the country’s gun laws. Their actions have already led to the passage of a number of bills in various states that have tightened regulations.