Cops Used Black Mugshots For Target Practice

A Florida police force is facing criticism after it emerged its officers used mugshots of black people for target practice. North Miami Beach Police has denied racial profiling in its choice of the images. A Florida National Guard sergeant who visited a gun range last month was stunned to recognise her brother among the images of bullet-riddled faces left by police snipers. Her brother, Woody Deant, served four years in prison for a fatal drag race as a teenager and was released in 2004, according to NBC Florida, which first reported the story. His sister, Valerie, told the station she cried after seeing his 18-year-old face with bullet holes through his forehead and right eye at the firearms centre in Medley, Florida. North Miami Beach Police Chief J Scott Dennis conceded his officers could have shown better judgement. But he told NBC News the sniper team included minority officers, no policies had been violated and none of the officers would be disciplined. Chief Dennis also said such photographic targets were vital for facial recognition drills. But Mr Deant told NBC Florida: "Now I'm being used as a target? "I'm not even living that life according to how they portrayed me as. I'm a father. I'm a husband. I'm a career man. I work nine to five."

Posted by Donatus Joshua at 03:04