Mina tasks sheriff advisory board to review agency’s use of force policies

Orange County Sheriff John Mina has tapped his Citizens Advisory Committee to review the agency’s use of force policies, following weeks of nationwide protests, including in Orlando, over police brutality and racial injustice.

While the committee did not finalize any potential changes to the force policy at their meeting Thursday, members questioned OCSO officials about aspects of the policy, including when chokeholds are banned, how they can request records about disciplined deputies, and if de-escalation and verbal judo are part of training.

“We need to change our techniques and tactics sometimes,” Mina said to the committee. “It’s very important the community has input in those changes.”

Mina asked the nine-member board, all appointed by local elected officials besides one representative from the sheriff’s union, to come up with recommendations to improve the policy, which he would then consider adopting.

Mina recently updated the policy himself to include a “duty to intervene” for when deputies see excessive force by another officer, sparked by the public death of George Floyd, who was killed after a Minneapolis police officer held his knee on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while other officers stood by.

Many other agencies across the nation have added or amended policies to include such a “duty to intervene,” but Mina drew criticism from his deputy’s union for how he made the change and the specific wording. Union leaders have said they do not take issue with the concept, but want their concerns addressed.

Other police advisory boards have pressed for more power in recent weeks, including at the Orlando Police Department, wanting to be able to do independent reviews and oversight of officers, but Mina assured the committee they have power.

“You do have the power, you have the power to make policy change and that is about what you’re about to do,” Mina said.

Committee members said in the past, all their recommendations have been adopted into OCSO policy. However, when asked by member of the public if the OCSO committee has the power to hold deputies accountable when they ignore policy, members agreed that wasn’t their role.

OPD’s board can review internal affairs investigations, which include the use of excessive force, but the citizen board at the sheriff’s office does not function that way, said Mark Bassett, who’s served on the committee about five years. No members pressed for more oversight power, though some said they have been able to ask for more details about specific investigations in the past.

“Our role is advisory, not review,” Bassett said. “It differs from the Orlando police board.”

gtoohey@orlandosentinel.com