Representatives Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Frederica Wilson (D-FL) released the following joint statement on the conduct of two Broward County Sheriff’s Office deputies last Thursday in Tamarac, FL:
“We are outraged by the appearance of unprofessional conduct of the two Broward County Sheriff’s Office deputies last Thursday in Tamarac. Rather than deescalating the situation, the deputies appear to have dramatically overreacted with a disproportionate use of force – pepper-spraying a non-violent student, tackling and forcing his neck to the ground, and repeatedly striking his head on the pavement.
“At a time when unarmed Black children are being beaten and killed at an alarming rate by law enforcement in this country, we appreciate that Sheriff Gregory Tony is conducting a thorough investigation, but we also urge him to be fully transparent and to take appropriate action to reassess the Office’s crisis response training and techniques, so that this type of incident does not occur in our community in the future.”
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation
