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Local News

Sheriff: More Transparency Needed

By
Rich Jones, News Director
@ February 11, 2009 12:30 PM
Permalink | Comments (0)

Days after WOKV reported the fourth shooting involving Jacksonville Police in 2009, Sheriff John Rutherford is calling for more transparency in the lengthy process after those shootings.  

 

The Sheriff is pushing for the internal review meetings to be more open, maybe even streamed online, so that you can better understand how the officers who pull the trigger are scrutinized.

He's been meeting with members of the African American community and criminal justice experts to find additional transparency.

UNF criminal justice professor Mike Hallett says an external review is critical.

"Most law enforcement agencies in the area have an external agency do the review.  FDLE does the review in most cases".

He says that would offer a constructive and non-threatening method.

The Sheriff stopped short of committing to the idea of a citizens review board.

"Officers have to know that they're going to be treated fairly when their actions are reviewed, that it's going to be a fact-finding evidenciary based process based on law".

Professor Hallett says there is a simple answer to the issue.

"The number one way to immediately reduce police shootings is to stop shooting at police".

Sheriff Rutherford says the department's internal review process is lauded as one of the most effective in the nation.



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