Last Friday afternoon, the State Attorney charged Key West Police Officer Michael Beerbower with three counts of battery. He is accused of beating two suspects after they were peppersprayed and handcuffed. We told you about those allegations last August.
We have now had an opportunity to look at much of the evidence against Officer Beerbower (See related commentary on page 1.) . We would be first to argue that he should be considered innocent until proven guilty— but the State Attorney seems to have a pretty good case. While most officers questioned seem to have the "blue amnesia", two officers have made sworn statements that they saw Beerbower beating up the two handcuffed suspects who were no longer resisting. Why would these two officers— knowing that they would face the abuse of their fellow officers— make statements like that if they weren't the truth? If Beerbower is guilty of these acts, his behavior goes well beyond "misconduct". These are acts of criminal cowardice.
We are also troubled by allegations that other cops watched as Beerbower allegedly beat one of the suspects and, perhaps, even called to him when the coast was "clear"— when no witnesses were nearby. Yet, these are the very officers who have sworn to investigators that they saw nothing.
As we have suggested before, this mentality starts at the top— with Chief Buz Dillon.