Home » About » Newsletters » September 2003
"Panhandle ACLU Calls for Federal Investigation, Civilian Review of Fatal Shootings by Escambia County Deputies"
September 2003 Edition of the ACLU of Florida Newsletter
At a news conference in Pensacola on July 3, the ACLU of Florida's Panhandle Chapter and other Pensacola grassroots organizations, including Movement for Change and the Escambia Sociology Center, called on members of the Escambia County Commission to adopt a proposal for a Citizens' Investigative Board (CIB), an independent civilian oversight panel with the power to investigate complaints of misconduct, review police policies and practices, and make recommendations to the sheriff and county manager.
The proposed CIB ? composed primarily of civilians who are nominated by the public and approved by the county commission ? also would have subpoena power to compel the production of documents and the participation of witnesses.
The CIB proposal was developed following the death of David Lewandowski, who was shot by Escambia Sheriff's deputies on June 26. It was the second shooting in two weeks for the Escambia Sheriff's Office which, according to news reports, had 14 fatal, deputy-involved shootings between 1994 and 2001. On June 16, Lathern Broughton, 64, was shot and killed after deputies raided his home.
To date, all of the shootings have been cleared by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which investigates shootings involving Escambia Sheriff's deputies.
Leaders of the ACLU of Florida's Panhandle Chapter and Movement for Change also filed a request with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the 14 fatalities that have occurred at the hands of Escambia Sheriff's deputies since 1994.
The chapter also is working with other local groups to design a "Police Watch" program that will provide a 24-hour crisis hotline to report police misconduct. Police Watch volunteers will be available 24 hours a day to monitor and videotape law enforcement encounters, while also tracking and investigating misconduct after it happens. The chapter is also urging the Commission for Law Enforcement Accreditation to monitor the Sheriff's Department for 12 months before granting its reaccreditation.
