Prometheus 6

Miami's policy ensures that individuals are permanently ostracized for past mistakes or criminal activity. As a result, some officers have been dismissed from the department. One officer, Viona Browne-Williams, a 21-year veteran, has been told that she will be fired if she doesn't separate from her husband, a convicted felon who served his sentence and was released in 2002.

A 'Scarlet Letter' approach to policing

The city of Miami Police Department policy of forbidding officers to have any social contact with ''undesirable persons'' is morally wrong, socially discriminatory and very likely unconstitutional. It should be banned immediately. If Police Chief John Timoney doesn't change or eliminate the policy, Mayor Manny Diaz should demand that it be done.

This is what the policy says: ``Associating with Undesirable Persons -- Unless within the scope of official police duties, members of the department are prohibited from associating in any manner whatsoever with known offenders, known criminals, prostitutes or persons of ill repute.''

Sweeping language

No doubt the policy has a good intent. Police say it is meant to promote integrity, protect police information and keep guns away from convicted felons. Obviously, police should avoid spending their free time in gambling establishments with known criminals and prostitutes. Such close association with individuals actively engaged in undesirable activities puts officers and their departments in a bad light, and should be avoided. The department has a right to insist that officers avoid such contacts.

However, this isn't what the Miami police policy does. This policy is written in such broad, sweeping language that it creates an unnecessary intrusion into officers' personal lives. Worse, its broad-brush characterization makes no distinction between people actively involved in wrongdoing and those who may have had a past transgression for which they have paid their debt and are now living lawful, crime-free and even exemplary lives.