Supervisor Bowen Calls for Fire & Police Commission Reform

Supervisor David Bowen, District 10, is calling on city of Milwaukee officials to take immediate action to protect the public, based on a decision by the Fire & Police Commission to allow an accused police officer to return to duty. The officer is captured on-camera as he repeatedly punches a handcuffed Milwaukee woman.

Supervisor Bowen is set to join community leaders and in a news conference today, December 6, 2012 at 5 p.m. on the 3rd floor of City Hall, prior to the Fire & Police Commission (FPC) meeting.

Supervisor Bowen, who has been a proactive county advocate for accountability at the Medical Examiner’s office after the Derek Williams situation, will stand with community members to demand critical changes to the FPC and releases the following statement:

“Police and community relations continue to deteriorate as the Fire & Police Commission continues to fail to address a consistent pattern of abuse by rogue police officers. The Commission’s inability to make sound and responsible decisions to protect the public enables officers who choose to violate the rights and humanity of city residents. With outcomes such as the most recent case of Janine Tracey, a female Milwaukee resident handcuffed in the back of a police car and punched repeatedly by a Police Officer who the FPC believes should now get his job back, there is clear evidence that we need change.

“My constituents have expressed their expectation of responsible law enforcement and have spoken to City officials time and time again about the need for good police officers who are committed to doing their jobs, protecting and serving this community with dignity and respect, not the disrespect and wrong-doing that we continue to see in situations with Darius Simmons, Derek Williams, Janine Tracey and others. Milwaukee residents deserve accountable law enforcement and local leadership that ensures that policies and procedures are implemented and enforced to protect the safety of the public.

“I will stand with community leaders from organizations including Occupy the Hood, Urban Underground, A.B.E. Movement and others, who are demanding the immediate removal of all current members of the Fire & Police Commission on grounds of consistent disregard for citizens public safety. The current membership should be replaced with appointments of new members who reflect the interests of the community. Also, in light of the agenda items for today’s meeting, we support the new ‘use of force’ policy changes being offered but demand that local elected officials follow through on ensuring that these policies are actually implemented and enforced.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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