Police Use Black Male Faces For Target Practice

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Police Chief J. Scott Dennis

The shot-up mugshots of formerly arrested suspects were reported to police leaders late last month, after members of the Florida Army National Guard discovered them during their annual weapons qualifications training.  Naturally, public outcry was immediate and intense, particularly in the shadows of the shooting death by police of Michael Brown in Missouri, as well as the chokehold death of Eric Garner in Staten Island, NY.

In a face saving move and seemingly believing this somehow makes it all better, the department said the mugshots were those of suspects arrested more than a decade ago and that photos of real people were often used during sniper training to simulate real life.

“This is not a race issue. There was no mal-intent or prejudice involved,” North Miami Beach Police Chief J. Scott Dennis said in a statement.  If the department was hoping to simulate real life, Chief Dennis failed to explain why ALL of the photos were of black men only.

Woody Deant

Woody Deant, whose mugshot from 15 years ago was among those used, was shocked to learn that police were using a picture of his face for target practice.

“The picture actually has, like, bullet holes,” Deant said. “One in my forehead and one in my eye.  I was speechless.”

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According to Chief Dennis, sniper training has since been suspended and an investigation has been launched.

“The North Miami Beach Police Department recognizes how, taken out of context, it may appear to be offensive,” Dennis said.  He added that only 2 of the department’s 95 officers are snipers and that no disciplinary action against the officers will be taken.

Understandably, the discovery has struck a nerve in South Florida and throughout the country, where police departments have faced criticism over recent shootings that resulted in death and in their treatment of black suspects.

“We see this act as a symptom of a larger systemic issue that devalues black and brown lives,” said Muhammed Malik, a member of the Miami Committee on State Violence. The committee led hundreds of activists in shutting down a major Miami highway earlier last month to protest against the deaths of unarmed black men Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Israel Hernandez-Llach of Miami.

The New York City Police Department has been in the news lately for throwing a temper tantrum by turning its back on Mayor Bill De Blasio and slowing down arrests, after national protests displayed negative public sentiment against rogue and racist police officers.  However, when the Miami Police Department allows their officers to shoot at photos of all black men and they don’t see a problem, it’s no wonder national public sentiment is where it is!