MIAMI, FL — On Sunday, a traffic stop involving Miami Dolphins player Tyreek Hill escalated as police officers from the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) forcibly removed Hill from his car outside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, violently threw him onto roadway pavement, and arrested him. The arrest occurred shortly before kickoff for a Dolphins home game, and Hill was released at the scene to continue on his way to participate. MDPD released police body camera video footage the next day, following a public outcry.
The incident occurred mere weeks after the City of Miami announced it was disbanding Miami’s Civilian Investigative Panel, which served as an independent police review board and was set in place by community advocates more than 20 years ago.
Kara Gross, legislative director at the ACLU of Florida, responded with the following:
“Law enforcement’s escalation of this routine traffic stop showcases the heavy-handed mistreatment that Black and brown communities know all too well. This footage is deeply disturbing and a perfect example of why there is so much fear and mistrust surrounding law enforcement’s actions, and why there is such a critical need for police accountability.
“Law enforcement is supposed to serve and protect the public. Our tax dollars should be going toward making our communities safe from violent crimes, not forcibly arresting civilians for traffic citations or handcuffing peaceful bystanders bearing witness to police excessive use of force.
“Earlier this year, Governor DeSantis signed legislation that undermines civilian review boards across the state. In response to that law, the City of Miami recently announced its decision to defund Miami’s Civilian Investigative Panel, which provided critical accountability measures. Law enforcement’s grotesque display of force is a natural consequence of DeSantis’ policies in action. And the disbanding of civilian review boards means that police will be more emboldened than ever to over-exert their authority, now that there will be fewer guardrails in place to hold them accountable.
“We still remember the months it took for police to release camera footage for Philando Castile and George Floyd. Fortunately, Hill was not harmed further in this arrest, but what occurs to the Black and brown folk who don’t have the same fame or resources? What happens when the public is not made aware of these incidents of escalation and excessive force because there is no camera footage or bystanders present?
“Drastic changes are needed in our approach to public safety, which disproportionately harms Black and brown Floridians. If we want to enhance trust and public safety, then we must review the laws that are set in place that prohibit them.”
