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NAACP and ACLU of Florida Letter Urging Top County Officials to
Disavow Officer's Views on Beating
The following letter was mailed to top county officials on September 27, 2000:
Carlos Alvarez, Director
Miami-Dade Police Department
9105 NW 25th Street
Miami, Florida 33172
Hon. Alex Penelas, Mayor
Miami-Dade County
111 NW First Street, 29th Floor
Miami, Florida 33128
Merritt Stierheim, County Manager
Miami-Dade County
111 NW First Street, 29th Floor
Miami, Florida 33128
Dear Director Alvarez, Mayor Penelas, Manager Stierheim:
The September 22, 2000, Miami Herald, published a "letter to
the editor" from Miami-Dade Police Officer Vic Fernandez regarding
the recent chase and apprehension of Jerome McClellion. In his letter,
Officer Fernandez conveys the following messages:
1. following a chase of a criminal suspect, police officers should
be expected to administer a beating;
2. because of their moral outrage at the actions of criminal
suspects, it is impossible for police officers involved in a stressful
situation not to vent their anger in some way;
3. since the criminal justice system fails to adequately punish
criminals, it is up to the police to administer punishment, and
4. not only is the beating of some of those apprehended by
the police to be expected, some criminal suspects deserve to be
beaten by the police.
While we fully support the right of Officer Fernandez to express
his opinion on this matter, we are deeply concerned that the public
may see his expression as the official view of the Metro-Dade Police
Department. We are also concerned that Officer Fernandez' opinion
is not only shared by other officers, but may be acted upon in day
to day police operations. Further, the views also smear the good reputation
of those officers who do act appropriately.
We call upon each of you to take steps, both publicly and internally,
to clearly and forcefully repudiate the views expressed by Officer
Fernandez. We believe that it is particularly important that Metro-Dade
Police Department officers hear the message from all supervisors that
while police officers are entitled to use reasonable force to protect
the public, themselves and their fellow officers, they are not permitted
to administer punishment to criminal suspects.
It is only by taking such a stand, and enforcing it in practice, that
the public can be assured that Officer Fernandez' views do not represent
those of the Metro-Dade Police Department.
Sincerely,
John de Leon
President
Greater Miami Chapter, ACLU
Bishop Victor T. Curry
President
N.A.A.C.P., Miami-Dade Chapter
Randall C. Marshall
Legal Director
American Civil Liberties Union of Florida
