Home » About » Newsletters » January 2002
"Miami Voters Say 'Yes' to Civilian Review of Police"
By Sophie Brion
Intake/Intern Coordinator
On November 6, City of Miami voters overwhelmingly approved a charter amendment that will permanently change the way the allegations of police misconduct involving the Miami Police Department will be handled. It was an historic victory for the community, thanks, in large part, to the combined efforts of the ACLU's Miami Chapter and the ACLU of Florida's State headquarters.
Federal indictments of 13 City of Miami police officers accused of covering up police shootings by planting "throw-down" weapons on innocent victims, and other shocking reports of misconduct, prompted a coalition of community groups, including the ACLU, NAACP, Brothers of the Same Mind, and People United to Lead the Struggle for Equality, to work with the City Commission to address the problem of police misconduct.
In recent years, the city's Internal Affairs Department proved incapable of policing its own, acting as a deterrent to individuals ? police officers and citizens alike ? who wanted to report police misconduct. The solution proposed by the coalition, and supported by the commission, was the creation of an independent civilian oversight mechanism for City of Miami Police. Nearly 75 percent of the city's voters approved the creation of an independent Civilian Investigative Panel (CIP).
The Panel will be fully funded and staffed and include its own independent counsel. Details regarding the appointment process and composition of the panel will be will be ironed out in an ordinance that is being crafted by the ACLU, in conjunction with other community organizations, and the City Attorney's Office.
