A North Miami pastor is calling for an apology from the police department after it was discovered that mugshots of black men were being used for officers' target practice.
Pastor Jack Hakimian of Impact Church was disturbed that images of detained citizens were used in sniper training, and said the chief of police should apologise to the community, reports Local 10 news.
"As someone who is of Afro descent, we are saddened that as we approach MLK holiday, these things are still happening in our society," Hakimian told reporters.
The controversy began after a police sergeant visited the shooting range, and discovered a15-year-old mugshot of her brother in the trash, riddled with bullet holes.
The North Miami Police Department was using mugshots of six black men instead of the traditional faceless silhouettes as targets.
Hakimian said the race of the people being used as targets mattered little.
"Our issue is not whether it's black [people]," he explained. "It's [that] you don't use human faces of actual people... We're here to defend the rights of all people."
In a statement, the police department said they will no longer use mugshots in sniper training, and emphasised the diversity of the police department and sniper unit.
Pastor Hakimian, who is also the police department's chaplain, said more needs to be done to repair the damaging effects on the community.
"People are outraged," he admitted. "People are saddened. We are asking the chief, J. Scott Dennis, to apologise to the family, to apologise to this young man."
Officers involved in the sniper training programme have reportedly been suspended pending an investigation.
