Aramis Ayala is the first Black woman state attorney for the state of Florida, and she just did something everyone in her position should. When police break the law and show that they’re untrustworthy, there’s a little-used tool that can be used to protect the public.
“Brady lists” are like blacklists. When police show prosecutors they’re untrustworthy, prosecutors can put them on a list so everyone knows to reject cases that come from these officers and not to trust them in court. Aramis’s list shows just why this is so crucial.
Cops on her list have been charged with fraud, rape, shooting into the wrong home, child pornography, drug supplying, brutality, racism, and much more! That’s why this issue is of the utmost importance.
Just think about all of the officers that are NOT on these lists. Another Black woman, Chief Prosecutor Kim Gardner of St. Louis, has come under fire from the police establishment after using these exclusion lists. Accountability shouldn’t be controversial, but it is. This exposes a deeper problem.
Police officers and their unions oppose accountability efforts because police often operate with impunity. The system instead rewards bad behavior!
Police forces won’t fire these officers, but Brady lists are a way for good prosecutors to circumvent their corruption. They need to be universal – and actually go even further!