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Families demand answers after officer‑involved shooting as commissioners pledge FDLE review, mental‑health investments and youth programs
Summary
Relatives of people killed in a recent officer‑involved shooting pressed the commission for body‑cam footage and ballistics; the city manager said FDLE leads the external investigation and promised to provide contact information while commissioners pledged to pursue mental‑health, mentoring and youth programming in the budget.
Family members of victims in a recent officer‑involved shooting used the Fort Pierce City Commission meeting on June 17 to demand transparency, urge prompt release of investigative material and call for expanded local mental‑health and youth services.
Albert Smith said his son was killed and publicly accused the police of failing to produce body camera footage or ballistic evidence the family expects. “My son was murdered,” he said, asking why investigators had not shared footage and alleging officers had not been held to account. April Smith, who identified herself as the wife of a victim, said the family could not file insurance claims because they had not been provided police reports or footage and demanded answers.
City Manager Mims told the audience that officer‑involved shootings in the city are investigated externally by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and that the city does not conduct its own internal inquiry in those cases. He said he would provide FDLE contact information to the families and that the city would release information as permitted by an outside investigation.
Several speakers framed the problem as broader than a single incident and urged investments in mental‑health services, youth outreach and coordinated community programs. Dr. Dolores Benjamin and other mental‑health professionals urged development of parent‑education programs and local intervention points; community members urged partnerships with churches and nonprofits to expand on‑the‑ground help. One resident asked stronger regulation of retail establishments she alleged were distributing illegal drugs near schools.
Commissioners expressed sympathy and acknowledged limits on the city's ability to release information while FDLE investigates. Several said the city would prioritize funding for law‑enforcement technology and community mental‑health resources during the pending budget process. Commissioners and the city manager also called for improved community communication and offered to meet with families and local mental‑health providers to discuss concrete steps.
The meeting produced no new investigative documents; Mims reiterated that FDLE is the lead investigative agency and promised to provide FDLE contact details to the family. Commissioners urged residents to participate in planned outreach and indicated they will explore budget allocations to support mental‑health responders, mentoring and youth programs.
The commission closed public comment and adjourned, with multiple commissioners reiterating a commitment to follow up.
