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Daisy Lynum Accuses Police Of Racial Profiling

Orlando City Commissioner Daisy Lynum continued launching volleys about racial profiling against the city's police department.

At a meeting Wednesday night she again asked for residents to come forward with their stories of racial profiling.

Lynum admitted she can't control the police department, but she said she believes officers are trained to racially profile motorists. Wednesday night's public forum was staged around the topic of education. But Daisy Lynum continued her mission to root out what she called a culture of racial profiling within the Orlando Police Department.

“If the police department will not take your complaints, when you believe you've been racially profiled, I want you to call my office,” Lynum pleaded.

Lynum's comments go back to a situation her son ran into last month.

“Driving while black, looking for a reason to find a ticket. Then I'm clean so you have to let me go,” Juan Lynum said of an incident last month.

In May, an Orlando police officer pulled over Juan Lynum for a broken headlight, but wouldn't tell him why. Authorities said the stop was justified.

“Makes you feel you can't trust law enforcement. Now as a criminal defense attorney at age 30 I still have a fear of the police when I'm pulled over.”

Meantime, Daisy Lynum wants to have all police cars equipped with cameras and microphones. That, she said, would document how all traffic stops are handled.

“I'm very strong on law enforcement and I believe our department is a very good department. I think most of the problem comes out of fewer than the whole department,” added Lynum.

But Lynum said there is a culture within the OPD. The chief has said Lynum's comments are bad to the department, but did not ask for an apology.

Lynum is sponsoring another meeting next week. It is supposed to address racial profiling directly.

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