Fort Lauderdale

NAACP Wants U.S. Justice Department to Investigate Fort Lauderdale Police

The NAACP is asking the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the Fort Lauderdale Police Department after the scandal that saw four officers lose their jobs over a racist video and text messages.

At a news conference Friday, NAACP leaders and attorneys also asked the public to come forward with complaints of racially biased policing.

"When people are in Victoria Park and they are white, they are treated a lot different than if they are black and in the northwest section," Broward public defender Howard Finkelstein said. "Enough is enough, this is not the deep south anymore."

The public defender's office made maps showing how police overwhelmingly target black areas of town when stopping people for biking without registration stickers, or walking on streets instead of sidewalks. The NAACP said one of the big problems is that when people try to complain about mistreatment, the FLPD gives them the runaround.

In a statement, the FLPD said they stand behind their internal affairs investigation, and added that the firing of the officers was appropriate.

"We are completely transparent and welcome any outside agency to conduct an independent review," the statement said. "We also welcome anyone who feels they were subjected to unfair or improper treatment by any of our employees to come forward and give us the opportunity to address their complaint."

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler also released a statement saying he appreciates the efforts of the NAACP.

"Should the Department of Justice decide to become involved in a review of this matter, they will have our full support and cooperation," Seiler said. "We remain committed to working every day to restore the community’s faith and trust in our law enforcement officers, and repairing any damage to the strong bonds that exist between our neighbors and our Police Department."

At Friday's news conference, two mothers who claim their sons were targeted by Fort Lauderdale officers spoke.

"They had beat him, they kicked him in his head," Michelle Davis said of her son. "Face swollen, eyes swollen, he had knots in his head."

Mother Cassandra Jordan said officers looking for her son forced their way into her home.

"Using the N word, breaking in my house, without a search warrant or anything," she said.

"When you see the blue lights, when you hear the sirens, you should not be afraid but if you are in the northwest section, folks are very, very afraid," the NAACP's Marsha Ellison said.

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