North Miami Beach Police Using Mugshots of Black Males for Target Practice, Chief Defends Actions

One police department in Florida was busted for their atrocious use of mugshots after a sister of one of the formerly arrested caught police using the images for shooting practice. Army Sgt. Valerie Deant visited a local gun range but was stopped in her tracks when she stumbled across images left by officers who used the range before her, and members of the National Guard. Miami police were using older mugshots, specifically of black males, to practice shooting. Deant recognized one of those faces as her brother, who was arrested 15 years ago. Woody Deant served his time in prison for drag racing, which led to the deaths of two people.

Woody is now 33-years-old, and was shocked to learn police were using his face and the face of other black males in a gun range. Woody has come a long way from the arrested 18-year-old, he once was. He is a father, career man and a husband - further causing a divide between police and communities.

Even more appalling? Chief J. Scott Dennis admitted his officers were using the mugshots for shooting practice, but defended the actions, and said there is no racial profiling. To add salt into a very raw wound, Dennis said “our policies were not violated,” and none of the officers would be disciplined. To make matters continually worse, the chief said the officers were using the mugshots as part of “face recognition drills.” With the heightened racial tensions in minority communities when it comes to the cops, these actions of the officers were not only irresponsible but dangerous.

Viral Global News was contacted by a local psychiatrist of this story, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“Illustrating a drill like this is completely irresponsible. Using the mugshots of specific black males instills in these officers what a ‘criminal’ profile is. It is biased on several levels, including severe racial bias. These are not just officers, they are snipers. The Chief’s lameduck excuse of having minority sniper officers does not remove his responsibility for allowing the images of black males to be used as target practice. Shooting in a high intense environment already increases the adrenalin. Ingraining into these officers’ minds the portrait aimed is a black male? Dangerous.”

Viral Global News has left several messages for varying departments to determine if this something common to other agencies. So far, no return calls have been received.

Woody is not sitting back allowing this to happen. The fact he is being used is hitting him hard, especially since that moment in his life remains extremely tender. He has reached out to an attorney, who agreed with the assessment of danger being the cornerstone of these mugshots being used.

The chief said for now they will stop using mugshots until a broader array of mugshots are available, and they will not use booking photos. To what degree of acceptability is using real mugshots? It appears the answer to that disturbing question remains in the gray.