Miami police have civilian oversight. Miami-Dade officers should, too | Opinion

It’s the most common question I have received from my roughly 20,000 social-media followers, as well as in countless text messages and phone calls: “Rodney, what happens after the protests, tear gas and rubber bullets?”

I have an answer.

At Sunday’s press conference in front of the Miami-Dade Police Department, city of Miami elected leaders gave us a glimpse of what “next” could look like. It is up to the public to remember their promises and to hold these leaders accountable.

Many of us mourning George Floyd’s horrific death in Minneapolis feel stuck, thinking our only options in this moment are to protest, to riot, or to sit at home. But in the city of Miami, residents have an important tool they can use: civilian oversight. The Civilian Investigative Panel, CIP, investigates complaints against Miami police officers involved in misconduct. The CIP also reviews departmental orders and policies and reviews/re-investigates Internal Affairs complaints. As an independent oversight agency within Miami, the CIP has the backing of city resources, but maintains complete independence and autonomy from the Miami Police Department.

Those in Miami who have been protesting for greater police accountability have another option: to engage with the civilian police oversight process to hold rogue officers accountable. City leaders expressed their disdain for what happened to Floyd, calling the actions by the police officers involved “inhumane.” They assured the public that the CIP will remain fully funded and receive additional resources as necessary.

I took note of these promises, all Miamians should. It is as critical to hold our elected leaders accountable to enact and enforce measures that combat police misconduct, as it is to hold our police chief accountable for disciplining officers involved in misconduct. These promises, if fulfilled, will ensure the CIP continues to uphold its mission and, hopefully, prevent similar atrocities we’ve seen across the nation.

But, what happens next is also proactive. The Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) operates the largest police department in Florida. So far, efforts to institute civilian oversight in the county have failed at the County Commission and would have been vetoed by the mayor. Right now, Miami, we have a moment--a moment for monumental change, change that not only honors the memory of George Floyd, but also makes Miami-Dade County a better place for all its citizens and tourists.

Everyone can play a role right now in creating real, organized, and systemic change by asking the County Commission and mayor to implement, fully fund and support civilian oversight of MDPD. On Channel 10’s “This Week in South Florida,” Mayor Carlos Gimenez, said he would do anything within his power to avoid what happened in Minneapolis. He condemned the death of George Floyd on Twitter, saying it was, “clearly an assault on the dignity of human life.”

Clearly, now is the time to urge the mayor to stand by his word and to help usher in a proactive measure that will help eliminate officer misconduct in our communities.

I alone can’t reform police departments, and I alone can’t help institute countywide oversight. There is a coalition of 26 community organizations unified by this common goal of ensuring civilian oversight is available to all Miami-Dade residents. With the help of all our collective communities, we can make it a reality.

Rodney W. Jacobs, Jr., J.D., is assistant director of the city of Miami Civilian Investigative Panel.

This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 6:46 PM.