FDLE To Investigate Miami-Dade Police Shootings
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — Changes are coming to the Miami-Dade Police Department. The Department will no longer investigate itself for criminal wrongdoing in shooting deaths.
Instead, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will step in. The Miami-Dade County Commission voted 9-2 Tuesday to endorse the plan.
CBS4 News partner The Miami Herald reports the move follows years of complaints and controversial shootings. County Mayor Carlos Gimenez says it will make the department more transparent and strengthen the community's trust.
Civil rights groups have been calling for the agency to distance itself from investigating its own. Nathaniel Wilcox of the People United to Lead the Struggle for Equality applauded the news, but says he's leery because decisions on criminal investigations still lie with the state attorney.
Miami-Dade police shot 17 people in 2013. This year, they've shot 11, with four resulting in death.
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