Police

City of Miami voters in 2001 showed outsized support for an independent civilian panel to investigate police misconduct. But the City will soon dissolve the Civilian Investigative Panel to comply with a contentious new state law that bans such police watchdog groups.

Outages have hit at least eight states this year. They’re emblematic of problems plaguing emergency response communications due in part to wide disparities in capabilities and funding.

A new state law will take a lot of power away from civilian oversight boards in cities like in Miami, Tampa and St. Petersburg. It goes into effect on July 1.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we discuss changes to citizen-run police review boards, a new court action on sports betting, a state law on transgender health care, Juneteenth events in Fort Myers and Central Florida, a gallery exhibiting queer joy in honor of Pride Month, and how love for hockey has grown in Florida.

An investigation by The Associated Press has found that at least 17 people died in Florida over a decade following physical encounters with police during which medical personnel also injected them with a powerful sedative.

Many Florida cities created police oversight boards following the death of George Floyd.

The course would be developed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in consultation with the Department of Elder Affairs.

The measure would do away with existing review boards and prohibit counties and cities from creating panels to delve into complaints about alleged police wrongdoing.

The optional online course would teach how to interact with people who have dementia, recognize behaviors, use alternatives to physical restraints and spot signs of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

Under the bill, people can be arrested for harassing a first responder if they are within 14 feet and have been given a warning.

Civilian-run police oversight panels in South Florida and across the state could all be at risk under HB 601. Advocates say the prospective ban would betray efforts to foster better relations and trust among police and communities.

Under the bill, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement would develop the training in conjunction with the Department of Elder Affairs.