STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Justice Department to Investigate Shootings by Miami Officers

The Justice Department announced Thursday that it has opened a civil investigation into allegations of excessive use of deadly force by members of the city of Miami Police Department in relation to the shooting deaths of seven African-American suspects by officers.

The Justice Department announced Thursday that it has opened a civil investigation into allegations of excessive use of deadly force by members of the city of Miami Police Department in relation to the shooting deaths of seven African-American suspects by officers.
 
The investigation will seek to determine whether there are systemic violations of the Constitution or federal law by Miami police officers. The investigation is not criminal in nature.
Writes the Associated Press:
The shootings in inner-city Miami, from July 2010 to February 2011, sparked outrage in the Africa-American community and led to protests at City Hall. The NAACP and American Civil Liberties Union, among others, demanded a federal investigation.
The former police chief, Miguel Exposito, defended the shootings as justified and said they resulted from confrontations caused by more aggressive police tactics in high-crime areas plagued by gangs.
Exposito was fired in September and the interim chief, Manuel Orosa, has ordered an exhaustive review of all practices within the department.
The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office also has been investigating the shootings.

(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.