Police officer involved in two shootings in four days

Police officer involved in two shootings in four days
Story Highlights
Miami Beach police officer Adam Tavss is involved in two police shootings

Second shooting happened on his first day back on street

Questions are being raised as to whether he was cleared for duty too soon

Miami Beach police chief decides when an officer is ready to return



By Rich Phillips
CNN Senior Producer


MIAMI BEACH, Florida (CNN) -- On the grainy, silent black and white video, it's hard to tell exactly what happened the night of June 14 in Miami Beach. But one thing is certain: A tourist, Husien Shehada, can be seen falling to the ground, shot by a police officer. Shehada, 29, later died.

Four nights later, again in Miami Beach, Lawrence McCoy allegedly pistol-whipped a cab driver and led police on a chase. Police say shots were exchanged. McCoy, also 29, was killed.

Officer Adam Tavss, a 34-year-old former history teacher with three years on the force, was involved in both police shootings, the first in Miami Beach since 2003.

Although it is not yet clear whether Tavss fired one of the shots that killed McCoy, questions are being raised as to whether the officer was cleared for patrol duty too soon after the first shooting.

Police and the Miami-Dade County state attorney's office are investigating the shootings. The inquiry is expected to last several more months. All the records and reports have been sealed.
read more here
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/09/16/florida.police.shootings/index.html