¿Ya pa’ que?
For the third time in two years, the Miami-Dade Commission voted on Monday to institute and fund an Independent Civilian Panel to review police abuse and complaints. But it’s a much watered-down version with no real teeth to investigate anything.
Too little and too late — because the panel becomes nothing more than an advisory board when Miami-Dade voters elect a county sheriff in 2024.
It’s more like window dressing than any attempt to seriously address police misconduct in the midst of the biggest demand for more oversight in our nation’s history. It’s not the kind of reform that is called for in the wake of the police murder of George Floyd in Minnesota that sparked protests from coast to coast.
Mayor Carlos Gimenez has said he wouldn’t veto the legislation this time, because there was no subpoena power to force elected officials to testify. Florida law already bars the board from issuing subpoenas to police officers. So, basically, it’s a lot of vroom vroom about nada.
Read related: Miami-Dade Commission fails to put police review panel on November ballot
Don’t tell proponents that. Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava called it a “landmark decision” and thanked the mayor for his “public promise” to not issue a third veto. Like, yeah, thanks so much for respecting the board.
“The Panel is a critical first step to creating trust, oversight, and transparency between law enforcement and the community,” Levine Cava said in a statement. “I salute Commissioner Barbara Jordan who persisted through great opposition to make this a reality, and thank all our colleagues who voted yes to meet the moment now facing our country – when so many are demanding greater justice in policing.”
Ladra says Jordan caved. She really had no choice, though. She tried to get the panel, which was retired in 2009, restarted in 2018. Then again earlier this year in the wake of the Floyd murder at the hands of police. Both were vetoed. Jordan then tried to get her colleagues to support a ballot measure that would allow voters to make the call. They rejected that notion. Termed-out and done in November, this was maybe the only way to leave this as her legacy.
Oh well, advocates say, something is better than nothing. At least there’s a venue to present cases of police abuse or misconduct, a place to set the record, and another way to pressure the sleepy Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office to wake up from its coma.
Read related: Carlos Gimenez likes to be above the law; vetoes civilian police review panel
“Can it be effective until 2024? Yes,” said Daniel Suarez, a police accountability advocate who served five years on the city of Miami’s Citizen Investigative Panel. “Just depends on how active the appointees are and how the charter is defined.”
For example, Suarez said, the police director must be directed to respond to reviews. “The ICP can only succeed if the charter allows the panel to challenge the director, thus mandating the director to respond with constructive responses,” he said.
But does it provide a real platform to pursue justice when the police force and the SAO fail to do so? Or does it just provide a false sense of security? And just why can’t our elected officials — who are no more than mere mortals entrusted by us with our quality of life — give the process more credibility by providing sworn testimony on issues of police accountability.
What is so scary about that? If an elected has nothing to hide, why would any subpoena anywhere to provide any sworn testimony be a problem?
“The ICP will make our county safer,” Levine Cava said, “both for the brave men and women of law enforcement and for the public, and ushers Miami-Dade policing into the 21st century,” Levine Cava said.
Did she say 21st century?
The ICP, as voted on Monday by our spineless commission, is little more than an empty political notch on a campaign belt. But maybe the new commission that gets sworn in after Nov. 3 can give it more teeth.
Miami-Dade approves a watered-down independent civilian panel for police added by Ladra on
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I would not want to be Black in Miami-dade because if you want to see racism in Florida just look at Miami as police ignore White Hispanics who text as they drive , break curfews , etc but do not try that if you are Black..
I say this being a White Cubano but I do not pull the Miami junta party line ..
I believe in same rules / laws applied equally not the highly selective enforcement which is the rule in Miami.
I emailed Gimenez about this and got a ” We will look into it ” reply .
Appointed By The CORRUPT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ? That will Leave Every Body a BAD Taste on Their MOUTH ? WE “DON’T” Need Another Worthless Board like The OIG (Office of Inspector General) “or ” COE Commission of ETHICS ) All Tainted ? ¡WE NEED A SHERIFF ! Not mamas Boy like on The Past ?
Why do our elected leaders get to be exempt from testifying?
Reminds me of how Cava exempted staffers of the BCC from whistleblower protections….
When will someone get serious about government accountability?
Progress, no matter how small, is always a good thing. But until we get rid of the bigoted retrogrades on the county commission and mayor’s offices, our community will continue to suffer these injustices. We’ll be finally rid of Sosa and Souto in 2022 because of term limits, not soon enough in my opinion, and in the meantime, glad we got rid of Gimenez and Bovo on the commission. We must elect Daniella Levine Cava our next mayor so we can start changing the only-the-connected-can-succeed culture in our county. Basta ya de third world politics!
Another waste of tax dollars to please the underbelly of society. Each commissioner will select his/her own token member (preferably a nephew or cousin) to stage their political views.
Ever wonder if these people who end up being shot by cops would be just fine if they just respected law and order and cut back on their propensity for violence or their affinity to commit crimes?
WOW. The politicians in Miami-Dade are dumber than usual.
Hmmm,everyone should pay Attention to the Agency that is supposed to be honest and reputable called the Miami-Dade County Ethics and Public Trust Agency, we the people fund that Agency to defend Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and his Family, Friends, Lobbyists, Consultants and his Political Flunkies ! So if you have anything like that set up it’s nothing more than the “Fox guarding the Hen House ” Like Silly Puddy ,you shape it the way you like it ! Let’s wait and see how this goes down with how they set this Agency up or Organize it as from my own experience with Miami-Dade County Ethics and Public Trust Agency they are not interested in anyone filing complaints just interested in defending the Politically connected ! Big Sham outfit !
Gimenez and Bovo are scared of the Police Union. In fact, almost all elected officials are scared of Police and Fire Unions. That is why the median incomes for Police and Fire employees is 300% to 600% higher for Policemen and for Firemen than for Miami-Dade County private sector employees.
Lol. Toothless un-funded tiger just like the ethics board. SAO sent BCC a lovely gift basket.
Doug Hanks didn’t do us any favors either.