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Civil Rights Groups Unveil Proposal for Civilian Oversight of Miami Police Department
June 28, 2001
MIAMI ? A coalition of community groups today unveiled a proposal for a civilian investigative panel with the power to investigate police misconduct, subpoena witnesses and sanction officers. The proposal was issued in response to five unjustified police shootings in Miami since 1999, and the Miami Police Department's failed efforts to bring bad cops to justice.
At a mid-morning news conference, the Community Organizations Committee ? which includes representatives from People United to Lead the Struggle for Equality (PULSE), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida ? presented a plan to amend the City of Miami Charter to create a Civilian Investigative Panel to conduct independent investigations of allegations of brutality, and review standards for the use of force.
"We've seen an increasing number of very questionable shootings over the past few years and these officers are just not being punished," said Bess McElroy, president of PULSE and Chairperson of the Community Organizations Committee. The group was created following the April 30th shooting of Nick Singleton by a still unidentified Miami Police Officer. "There's a huge public outcry to put a process in place that makes these officers accountable for their actions. Now is the time for the city to get serious about this problem."
Aside from being able to subpoena witnesses and sanction officers and their supervisors, the four-page proposal also gives the nine-member Civilian Investigative Panel (CIP) the power to:
- hold public hearings, conduct investigations and prepare interim and final reports
- forward complaints alleging serious criminal activities to relevant prosecuting agencies
- retain the services of an independent legal counsel
Today's CIP proposal was released in response to a police proposal that fails to provide adequate independent oversight of officers. The model submitted by the police-appointed Blue Ribbon Committee ? made up of police division chiefs, FDLE Special Agents and the State's Attorney's Office ? allows the review panel to begin its investigations only after the city's Internal Affairs office completes its own review, rather than simultaneously as proposed by the Community Organizations Committee. Both proposals are expected to be presented to the Miami City Commission at its next meeting on July 10 th.
"It is incomprehensible that the very police department that hired and trained these officers, and adopted these policies, could conduct the type of objective investigation essential to safeguard our community from police abuse," said Lida RodriguezTaseff, President of the Greater Miami Chapter of the ACLU of Florida. "Renaming the Office of Professional Compliance and adding three volunteer citizens to work with city staff isn't exactly meaningful, and its certainly not independent."
