DORAL, FLA. (WSVN) - South Florida’s largest police department has published an open letter to the community to explain how they plan to implement changes to their policies.

The Miami-Dade Police Department released the letter at around 11 a.m., Monday.

In the letter, the department highlights current policing policies that have been in place at the MDPD that are getting national attention following George Floyd’s death, to demand they are revised or abolished.

Steadman Stahl of the Police Benevolent Association, said, “Are they perfect? No. As time goes on we will continue to do things differently.

Some are skeptical that the new policies will create any positive change.

Tiifanny Burks of Black Lives Matter said, “It’s ineffective. It’s been shown several times that pouring more money into these different trainings that have happened all over South Florida already, does not change police departments.”

The MDPD said they “want to update our community on where we stand” on the following policies:

  • Ban chokeholds and strongholds.
  • Require de-escalation.
  • Require warning before shooting.
  • Exhaust all alternatives before shooting.
  • Duty to intervene.
  • Ban shooting at moving vehicles.
  • Require use of force continuum.
  • Require comprehensive reporting.

The letter concludes with a statement reading, “While we have come a long way through the years, we realize that there is more work to be done, and we are committed to working in partnership with our community to be the model law enforcement organization in the nation by being responsive and blending strategic planning with community concerns.”

Burks said, “I could go on and on of the local incidents of police violence that have happened over the recent years with a lot of these trainings already in place. We don’t want them no more. We want them to be completely defunded.”

Stephen Johnson, the chair of the Black Affairs Advisory Board, said, “I’m certainly not in favor of defunding anything. But I am in favor of making sure that we’re funding the other social services necessary. So that someone can take a look. Someone can raise an alarm if there’s an alarm. It’s the confidence from the community in our police departments that leads to a better working environment for our police officers, and a better community for all of us.”

Miami-Dade mayor Carlos Gimenez said the county is moving towards a civilian investigative panel, which will advise leadership at the police department.

Gimenez said, “If we’re going to have a civilian investigative panel, it has to be made up of people from the community, all the community.”

Stahl said, “We are changing with the times.”

The department released the letter following a Black Affairs Community Board meeting last week where local leaders discussed the future and what needs to be done to create effective change. Their recommendations will be taken to the chair of the Board of County Commissioners in the near future.

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