UPDATE 2/27/15: Yesterday the City of Miami Commissioners approved a $975,000 payment to the Estate of Travis McNeil to settle a civil rights case stemming from McNeil’s fatal 2011 shooting by a Miami police officer. Mr. McNeil’s Estate had already reached a $150,000 settlement with federal agencies who were also participating in the operation that resulted in his death, for a total settlement of $1.125 million. Click here for a copy of the Press Release. The Daily Business Review also did a story on the settlement.
Travis McNeil was pulled over by a joint task force of City of Miami and federal law enforcement agents. Police approached his car and shot him, killing Mr. McNeil and wounding his passenger. No guns or contraband were found in the car. This episode was just the latest in a spate of deadly shootings by the Miami police. FJI, along with long-time civil rights lawyer Ray Taseff, on behalf of Mr. McNeil’s estate, filed one lawsuit against the City of Miami and the shooter, and another lawsuit against the federal agencies, to redress the violation of his civil rights. They cases were then consolidated.
Coincidentally, the United States Department of Justice recently found that the City of Miami Police Department has engaged in a pattern and practice of excessive force against the residents of Miami in violation of the Fourth Amendment, highlighting the McNeil shooting as a prime example.
Hopefully, this settlement will send a message that the Miami police department should take steps to improve its deadly force practices, to better serve the citizens of Miami.