Holding people in power accountable for their actions and exposing the impact those actions have on the public is among the most demanding tasks for investigative journalists.
When faced with an elected leader who avoids media inquiries or dismisses community concerns regarding a crucial public safety matter, simply moving on to another story is not an option.
In Southwest Florida, as well as across the nation, apprehensions about police brutality and misuse of authority loom large. In my series, “Who’s policing the police?” I dug into a use-of-force case where three deputies were fired, and four others were disciplined. The man arrested says he was beaten during the arrest, and high-level law enforcement experts agree that the surveillance video from the scene supports his story.
The public deserved to know what happened, why it happened, how the case was handled, and what was being done—if anything—to prevent it from happening again.
Upon encountering a video featuring the local sheriff seemingly condoning violence with the phrase, “Jumpsuits are red, justice is sweet, commit a crime in Lee County, and your ass will get beat,” I delved deeper. Does such rhetoric reflect a culture within the law enforcement agency that tolerates violence?
That question will be addressed in federal court. The man at the heart of this use-of-force case is suing the deputy who struck him and the sheriff.
This story isn’t over.
Thank you, Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists, for recognizing this work.
Céline McArthur 