The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office and the Miami Beach Police Department have announced they are investigating 16 officers allegedly linked to what they described as a series of racist and deplorable e-mails, including one featuring a picture of a dead body in connection to a 2011 Memorial Day shooting. The State Attorney's Office held a press conference, Thursday afternoon, to address issues regarding the e-mails allegedly sent by members of the police department. Some in attendance included Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales and Miami Beach Police Department Chief Daniel J. Oates. Among some of the released e-mails is a doctored poster of the film "Brokeback Mountain" with a photo of Tiger Woods superimposed over Heath Ledger's face. The film's title had been to changed to "Broke Black Golfer." In another, a Monopoly board game table now reads "Black Monopoly, with every single space requiring players to "Go Directly to Jail." In a third e-mail, Daffy Duck is seen telling Bugs Bunny, "I'm African American," to which the Looney Tunes rabbit responds "You're a [expletive n-word]." Fernandez Rundle told reporters she is taking a proactive stance on this investigation, sending out letters of notification to defense attorneys. "Every person deserves the fullest respect and fairest treatment possible from the system," said Fernandez Rundle. "We have always stood for equal treatment for everyone under the law." In addition, among the inflammatory images is an autopsy photo of 22-year-old Raymond Herisse allegedly sent by retired Miami Beach Police Maj. Angel Vazquez. On the morning of May 30, 2011, Miami Beach and Hialeah Police officers fatally shot Herisse at the intersection of 13th Street and Collins Avenue following a three-block chase that was partially captured on cellphone video. Officers ended up shooting more than 100 rounds into Herisse's blue car. According to a source, the retired law enforcer is expected to be arrested. It is against the law to e-mail any photographs of dead bodies in a criminal investigation. Miami Beach Police Police Capt. Alex Carulo was fired Thursday in connection to the e-mails. Prosecutors, however, stressed this is an ongoing investigation, and no one has been charged yet. Oates said both Carulo and Vazquez's conduct is unbecoming of a law enforcer. "The behavior, in particular, of these two leaders in the organization, and the tone that was obviously set in this organization at the top, I can't do enough to say how much we condemn it," he said. "We won't tolerate it, and we want to send a message to our citizens and to our employees that that kind of behavior is over." Police maintained that Herisse, who was in town for Urban Beach Weekend, was driving recklessly down Collins Avenue as he bumped into cars and barreled through barricades. Investigators thoroughly reviewed the case and no criminal charges were made. Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales released a statement which reads in part, "It is a terrible shame and disservice to the many dedicated men and women of the Miami Beach Police Department that the deplorable actions of a few officers have led to today's disclosures. However, today we have taken action to fix what has happened in the past." Prosecutors said some of the e-mails also included pornographic images. They said more than 500 cases may be affected as a result of the investigation.
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