HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Bradford Brown-Statement on CIP BudgetLi
•..:'W NAACP
NAACP
Miami -Dade Branch
National Association For The Advancement of Colored People
P.O. Box 540315 - Opa Locka, Florida 33054
Adora Obi Nweze President
http://miami-dadenaacp.org
https://www.facebook.com/MiamiDadeCountyNaacpBranch
Statement on CIP Budget to City of Miami Commission 9/23/14
Bradford E. Brown
First Vice President
Miami -Dade Branch
Sep. 22, 2104
Last week I had the opportunity to discuss police community issues with a former leader of the
Pittsburgh N.Y. NAACP. In the late 1990s following police shooting of unarmed Black men Pittsburgh was
investigated By the US Dept. of Justice and later signed a consent decree with a great deal of attention
to handling of police complaints. Like Miami the citizens voted to establish a civilian oversight board
with subpoena power. I was discouraged to hear his view that he felt the process had not been effective
in dealing with police shootings.
Similarly in Miami when the CIP was founded with subpoena power I ,along with others, hoped that the
situation would change in Miami with regard to deadly shootings of unarmed Black men. Yet the recent
Department of Justice finding makes clear that conditions have not changed despite the presence of a
CIP. We know that the Justice Department has considered the CIP in its investigations.The NAACP is
pushing for the consent decree between Justice and the City be signed to move forward faster than the
going to Court route would be.
I believe that there is a possibility for the CIP to become a real force but if and only if there is a
leadership at staff and Panel levels that will push the envelope in this area. A conservative route can
only leave the CIP irrelevant and we could no longer in good conscience refer these cases to the CIP.
i4-nogitv— Jvbnnl+i-UI— dfo6Nn-S+Uitrn0+- cn OP mde.+—
NAACP
NAACP
We take this position with no malice or judgment of the individuals who have been in place and their
overall skills in their professions, only that the results are not there as shown by the Justice
Department's finding and thus a change needs to be made and urge you to support a budget that would
allow this to happen amicably.
The NAACP is firmly convinced that the senior staff of the CIP be inclusive of African Americans and will
continue to work in that direction and are aware that progress is being made. In addition if the
Independent Council task is contracted we will work to ensure that Black law firms get full opportunity,
and consideration that they may bring a unique understanding to this task.
SLILiFfTED iNTO HE
PUBLIC RECORD FOR
' T BH.� - 6/.43. J