Panel Says Miami Police Overreacted

[Judi Lynn]

Panel Says Miami Police Overreacted
Wednesday August 2, 2006 10:46 PM
By MATT SEDENSKY
Associated Press Writer

MIAMI (AP) - Police officers indiscriminately used stun guns, tear gas and other weapons and unlawfully arrested and searched protesters during demonstrations three years ago at the free-trade conference, a city panel said Wednesday.

The response to roughly 8,000 demonstrators was largely a result of poor communication among law enforcement agencies and preoccupation with violent protests at previous trade meetings in Seattle and elsewhere, the Civilian Investigative Panel found.

Still, the panel said most officers acted appropriately and helped prevent a repeat of previous riots.
(snip)

The Miami Police Department led the law enforcement response, which included federal, state and local agencies. Police Chief John Timoney said he had not seen the report and would not comment. But he has repeatedly said that officers responded with force only when provoked - a claim protesters reject.
(snip/...)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5990206,00.html

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Medic treating cameraman Carl Kesser, FTAA protests, Miami, FL, November 20, 2003. Kesser's son reports he was filming a police attack on demonstrators when a police-fired bean bag bullet entered his temple. He now suffers from paralysis on half his face, is considering a lawsuit, and is grateful to the medics who helped him.
Photo: www.ftaaimc.org



Miami police reneged on promises to provide safe passage to senior citizens attending an FTAA protest in November
http://www.goiam.org/publications/imail/imail_03_02_2004.htm