Natural Citizen
01-21-2015, 11:11 PM
http://cdn.rt.com/files/news/36/e9/b0/00/north-miami-bans-target-mugshots.si.jpg
Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Officials in a Florida city have apologized for police using mugshots of black men for target practice. The city council has banned the use of such photographs at the range, but residents say that’s not enough and the police chief should be fired.
North Miami Beach police officers had been using a photo lineup of a half-dozen men arrested over the years for target practice, local ABC-affiliate WPLG reported. Many of the men still live in the area.
Outrage quickly spread. Protesters gathered outside the police department Tuesday for a rally organized by Miami-based Power U Center for Social Change. The group spoke about racial profiling, inequality and justice, the Miami Herald reported.
Dennis told WTVJ on Thursday that such images were crucial for “facial recognition drills,” and the target-practice inventory also includes white and Hispanic faces.
Several federal and state law enforcement agencies rejected Dennis' claim that use of real people for target practice is routine procedure, the NBC affiliate reported. Most police departments purchase commercial targets for their use.
On Monday, North Miami Beach Police Chief J. Scott Dennis announced an end to the policy of using real mugshots.
Residents called for his resignation at the meeting.
Continued - Florida town bans police use of mugshots for target practice, chief still on the job (http://rt.com/usa/224923-north-miami-bans-target-mugshots/)
Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Officials in a Florida city have apologized for police using mugshots of black men for target practice. The city council has banned the use of such photographs at the range, but residents say that’s not enough and the police chief should be fired.
North Miami Beach police officers had been using a photo lineup of a half-dozen men arrested over the years for target practice, local ABC-affiliate WPLG reported. Many of the men still live in the area.
Outrage quickly spread. Protesters gathered outside the police department Tuesday for a rally organized by Miami-based Power U Center for Social Change. The group spoke about racial profiling, inequality and justice, the Miami Herald reported.
Dennis told WTVJ on Thursday that such images were crucial for “facial recognition drills,” and the target-practice inventory also includes white and Hispanic faces.
Several federal and state law enforcement agencies rejected Dennis' claim that use of real people for target practice is routine procedure, the NBC affiliate reported. Most police departments purchase commercial targets for their use.
On Monday, North Miami Beach Police Chief J. Scott Dennis announced an end to the policy of using real mugshots.
Residents called for his resignation at the meeting.
Continued - Florida town bans police use of mugshots for target practice, chief still on the job (http://rt.com/usa/224923-north-miami-bans-target-mugshots/)