The Miami-Dade police officer involved in the Tyreek Hill traffic stop has a history of suspensions, as indicated by police records.
Police officer Danny Torres managed to rack up at least six suspensions throughout his 27-year career, as indicated in the records released by the Miami-Dade Police Department last Friday afternoon. Among these suspensions, there was a 20-day hiatus in 2018, a 10-day break in 2019, and four additional suspensions of 5 days each, all occurring between 2014 and 2016. The reasons behind these suspensions remain undisclosed.
In addition to these suspensions, Torres received at least four written reprimands between 1999 and 2020, according to the report.
On the weekend preceding their first game of the season, the police arrested Hill, a wide receiver. The public was treated to video footage of Hill's arrest, as well as the tense exchanges between Hill and two of his teammates, which sparked a debate between the team and law enforcement about how they handle traffic stops and engage with the public, particularly Black drivers.
Torres's record contains six complaints, four of which accuse him of excessive force. Only one instance resulted in a validated use of force complaint, whereas the other complaints were based on allegations of improper procedure, misuse of body cameras, rudeness, and unprofessional conduct.
Torres's use of force techniques, which include pushing, pulling, hitting, and striking, spanned from 2002 to 2022, according to the report. Some of these situations culminated in injuries, such as cuts, scrapes, and bruises, but the report failed to provide details about the victims.
CNN reached out to Torres' legal representatives for comment. As he seeks to be reinstated, Torres has received 35 commendations from the MDPD between 1998 and 2023, including recognitions for "dedication of duty" and "professionalism."
In a statement, Hill's attorney urged the MDPD to disclose more information about Torres's suspensions.
"We're eager to learn about the reasons behind Officer Torres' six suspensions," Julius B. Collins told CNN. "If an employee is suspended six times, they're usually dismissed. People have been dismissed under less severe circumstances. If these suspensions are due to misuse of force, abuse towards arrestees and detainees, or abusive language towards arrestees and detainees, this is a significant problem within the MDPD that needs to be addressed urgently."
Despite the numerous commendations Torres received, his record of suspensions and allegations of misconduct continue to raise concerns among some community members and Hill's attorney. Us, as a society, should strive to hold our law enforcement officers accountable for their actions, ensuring that all members of our community feel safe and treated fairly by the police.
