FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Lee County NAACP met with local law enforcement agencies Thursday to discuss the NAACP's push for safer policing practices in southwest Florida.
The Sanibel Police Department, Lee County Sheriff's Department, and State Attorney Amira Fox were all present and ready to answer questions about current department policies and procedures.
Leaders from the NAACP presented each agency with a list of 12 initial reforms designed to help the community move 'from anger to action' as well as build better trust between communities and law enforcement.
“Everyone that has any contact with the citizens of this area we want to touch base with them, ensure that the voices of the citizens are being heard, the NAACP is that voice,” said Jacquelyn McMiller, secretary for the Lee County NAACP.
The 12 step campaign addresses police use of force and specifically calls for departments to ban the use of choke-holds or knee-holds on detainees.
"We do not have those," responded Sheriff Carmine Marceno, of the Lee County Sheriff's Department, "There are no authorized choke-holds and we do not have any knee-holds of any sorts.”
The Lee County NAACP also questioned the state attorney's office role in holding law enforcement officers accountable for suspected misconduct.
"We consider ourselves to be the gatekeeper of the criminal justice system," said state attorney Fox, "Sometimes that means we’re on the same page of law enforcement, sometimes it means we’re not.”
Sheriff Marceno shared an example of how the LCSD has dealt with officer misconduct in the past.
"We had a use of force not too long ago where one of my deputies used force while somebody was handcuffed. It immediately was brought to our attention and immediately that officer was removed from service.”
Fox went on to ensure the NAACP that state attorney's office is independent of local police departments and reviews potential police misconduct through non-biased methods.
The Lee County NAACP plans to continue to locally launch their 12 unit campaign next week in its meeting with the Fort Myers and Cape Coral police departments.
