NAACP Wants Victims Of Alleged "Racist Cops" To Come Forward

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – The NAACP of Broward plans to establish a call center where people who think they were subjected to racially offensive misconduct by four former Ft. Lauderdale police officers who reportedly sent racist and homophobic text messages between them.

The organization is asking for those people to get in touch as they compile documentation in the quest to have an investigation in the officers' actions by the U.S. Department of Justice.

"When you see the blue lights or when you hear the sirens you should not be afraid but if you are on the northwest section, both are very, very afraid." said Marsha Ellison with the NAACP of Broward.

CLICK HERE To Watch Joan Murray's Report 

In addition to the text messages, Alvarez had also produced a video, which depicted blacks as being "savages" and portrayed President Obama with gold teeth. The video also uses the N-word to refer to President Obama.

"I firmly believe that the four officers that are no longer police officers because of their racist and discriminatory behavior and statements is not even the tip of the iceberg--there are plenty more where those came from," Ellison said.

The video and text messages were turned over to the police last October by officer Alex Alvarez's former fiancé. Alvarez, who had been with the department for two years, resigned shortly thereafter. The others; Jason Holding, James Wells, and Christopher Sousa were terminated by the department.

"That is a real shame that we have in this community that folks can't turn to police for justice and for help but they have to be fearful of police because of the color of their skin," said Public Defender Gordon Weekes.

One woman who contacted the department said her son has been targeted and beaten by city police officers.

"It's a shame," said Michelle Davis. "The way they beat him. Every time I call the police station, call the sergeant, they tell me to call somebody but I don't know who to call. I used to tell my child 'Don't worry about it, just keep praying because justice is going to come'. I thank God for everything that happened. Whoever this lady came, I thank her so much for putting this out there becaus things would have never got done."

Police Chief Frank Adderley said he's been contacted by federal agents who will be looking into whether the officer's racist views affected how they carried out their duties. As part of that investigation, the FBI could end up reviewing hundreds of arrests made by those four officers during the years they were on the street.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler said the city would cooperate fully with federal investigators. He said he realizes the community's confidence in the police has been shaken by these revelations of racism in the police force.

"This is about restoring the trust, as I said on Friday, this breaks the bonds that we have with our community," Seiler said. " And we want to make sure we restore the bonds and restore the trust."