Archer said his decision to transfer the task to the department's internal controls division was not intended as a slap at the homicide section, despite a 4-month Free Press investigation that raised questions about homicide's handling of several shootings.
Critics say homicide investigators are covering up bad police shootings.
The newspaper presented its findings Thursday to top police brass and representatives of the mayor's office and published the second installment of its findings today. Police Chief Benny Napoleon will decide whether homicide will have any role in future investigations, said mayoral press secretary Greg Bowens. The former head of the internal controls division, Clinton Donaldson, hailed the decision, saying the unit's personnel are better equipped for the task because of their mind-set to investigate fellow officers. Until a department reorganization in 1994, the division investigated nonfatal police shootings. However, the unit will have to be manned by experienced, well-trained people who have the capability of investigating their peers.