MIAMI -- Some commissioners are unhappy that Miami is essentially suing itself in the investigation of police actions during the free-trade protests in downtown Miami a year and a half ago.
The Civilian Investigative Panel created by Miami voters a few years ago is squaring off in court with Miami city attorneys. Taxpayers are suing themselves in circuit court, NBC 6 reported.
CIP chair Larry Handfield contends that police should turn over the operational plans they drew for handling the 2003 Free Trade Area of the Americas protests.
Many demonstrators complained that a heavy-handed police operation run by the Miami Police Department trampled on their right of free speech.
Handfield said the operational plan is key to the CIP investigation of demonstrators' claims.
"The information is essential to evaluate what happened, what went wrong, if anything," Handfield said.
But, police said that turning over their protest playbook is not a good idea.
"For security reasons, those operational plans need to be exempt from public records laws," Miami Police Chief John Timoney said.
The city attorney has already lost a round in court. After reviewing the operational plan in chambers, a judge ordered the plan to be turned over.
Some commissioners thought it unwise to spend more taxpayer dollars fighting to keep the police plan a secret.
Commissioner Tomas Regalado argued that releasing the plans for the 2003 protests will not compromise future operations.
"This operational plan will never be the same," Regalado said.
But, most commissioners were reluctant to intervene and derail the Miami-versus-Miami lawsuit, NBC 6 reported.
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