A proposal to revive a civilian oversight panel for the Miami-Dade police department passed an initial vote Tuesday, a measure that has received renewed interest on the heels of nationwide calls for law enforcement reform following the death of George Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes.
The vote was one step toward reestablishing civilian oversight of the largest police force in the southeastern U.S. The proposal would create an Independent Civilian Panel where people could file complaints against Miami-Dade police officers, allow county staff to investigate claims and fund the panel’s work with at least $7.59 million.
That minimum funding level is equal to 1% of the police department’s budget. The county mayor, the municipal government’s top administrator, would have the discretion to identify the source of the funding, which could include but is not limited to the police department.
Read more at our news partner the Miami Herald.
