Chief Won’t Name Cops Who Tased Brown
Morales says he legally prevented from releasing names, new FPC head also cites law.
The head of the Milwaukee Police Department says he can’t release the names of the officers involved in the January tasing and arrest of Milwaukee Bucks player Sterling Brown. A department investigation found officers acted inappropriately in responding to what started as a parking violation.
Body camera footage shows Brown was tased after he hesitated when ordered to take his hands out of his pockets — at least six officers surrounded him — once again putting the department’s use of force under scrutiny.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that it has learned the first officer on the scene, Joseph Grams, a former Army ranger who joined the department in 2015, was suspended for two days, while two supervisors were suspended: sergeants Jeffrey S. Krueger and Sean A. Mahnke. But it was not clear which of them was suspended for 10 days and which for 15 days.
Recently-appointed Police Chief Alfonso Morales said he’s legally prevented from releasing their names.
New Fire and Police Commission Executive Director La Keisha Butler said she understands how withholding the officers’ names could raise questions about transparency — something Morales has promised to increase in the department — but the law ultimately dictates how the investigation is handled.
“If we do not follow those rules, we end up being subject to liability on the back end for not following the rules and procedures that are in place, whether that’s via the contract that the officers work under or by state law,” said Butler.
After a meeting with Milwaukee state representatives, Morales took questions from reporters for the first time since the release of the body camera footage Wednesday.
Morales told reporters that turning the department around will take time.
Still, Milwaukee state representatives and common council members are calling for more information from the investigation to be released, including details of the disciplinary measures taken against the officers involved.
Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton said alders want to work with the Police Department to change the relationship between officers and residents.
“We recognize the historical tensions that exist between minority communities and police departments. Milwaukee is no different from any other urban center,” said Hamilton, adding that the city can set itself apart through a commitment to bringing about change.
Alderwoman Milele Coggs said members of the council want to discuss the Police Department’s training and policies as they pertain to de-escalation and implicit and cultural bias, something some Milwaukee state lawmakers cited as areas of interest after their meeting with the police chief.
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and Gov. Scott Walker have both weighed in on the footage. Kleefisch called the video “disconcerting.”
Walker took to Twitter to say the Brown arrest video shows the value of police body cameras for both officers and the public.
Listen to the report here.
Milwaukee Police Chief Unable To Give Details Of Officers Involved In Sterling Brown Arrest was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
More about the Sterling Brown Case
- The Sterling Brown Case: More Details on Tasing of Bucks Player - Gretchen Schuldt - Nov 21st, 2019
- The Sterling Brown Case: ‘Could Have Been Dead People in Walgreens.’ - Gretchen Schuldt - Nov 11th, 2019
- City Attorney candidate Tearman Spencer releases statement on Sterling Brown case - Tearman Spencer - Oct 11th, 2019
- City Hall: Council Okays Settlement to Sterling Brown - Jeramey Jannene - Sep 4th, 2019
- City Attorney Shifts Blame to Sterling Brown - State Sen. Lena Taylor - Aug 29th, 2018
- Joint Statement on the Sterling Brown case - Milwaukee Common Council - Aug 29th, 2018
- Op Ed: Jim Crow and Urban America - Dr. Robert S. Smith - Jun 25th, 2018
- Brown Files Suit Against Milwaukee Police - Ximena Conde - Jun 19th, 2018
- Chief Won’t Name Cops Who Tased Brown - Ximena Conde - May 25th, 2018
- Sterling Brown incident authenticates predictions from years past - Ald. Tony Zielinski - May 25th, 2018
- Mahlon Mitchell Statement on the Release of Body Cam Footage Involving Sterling Brown - Mahlon Mitchell - May 24th, 2018
- Supervisor Moore Omokunde Statement on Sterling Brown Video - Sup. Supreme Moore Omokunde - May 24th, 2018
- City Hall: Police Reform Needed, Say Council Members - Jeramey Jannene - May 24th, 2018
- Rep. Bowen: Statement on release of bodycam footage of Sterling Brown - State Rep. David Bowen - May 24th, 2018
- Sterling Brown case leaves us with many unanswered questions - Ald. Bob Donovan - May 24th, 2018
- Supervisor Nicholson Statement on Sterling Brown Incident - Sup. Marcelia Nicholson - May 24th, 2018
- Gov. Scott Walker Quick to Weigh in on NFL Player Protests, Silent on Release of Footage Showing Authorities Assaulting Milwaukee Buck Sterling Brown - One Wisconsin Now - May 24th, 2018
- Murphy’s Law: Police Video Gets National Attention - Bruce Murphy - May 24th, 2018
- Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC) calls for accountability for officers involved in the Sterling Brown video - Black Leaders Organizing for Communities - May 23rd, 2018
- Bucks Organization Statement on Sterling Brown - Milwaukee Bucks - May 23rd, 2018
How about an accurate title like “Chief can’t name cops who tased Brown” or “Chief claims can’t name cops who tased Brown.” The title suggests that he can but is choosing not to. There is no support in the article for that position.
I’m surprised that the initial police officer on the scene was only suspended 2 days. Why didn’t he just run the plates on the car, ask for Brown’s driver’s license and ticket him? What is the penalty for filing a false report? Didn’t he say Brown was aggressive – the video proves he was not. And to think there were two sergeants there? Maybe some of these officers should face the fact that they are not cut out to be police officers and do us all a favor and resign.
The whole incident makes me disgusted and ashamed; hopefully this video will be used in training – how not to confront a citizen and escalate a situation.