Tosa Alderwoman Calls for Firing Officer
First official in Wauwatosa to support firing of Joseph Mensah, who was involved in three total shootings.
Wauwatosa (Tosa) Ald. Heather Kuhl (Dist. 5) has become one of the first Tosa city officials to call for the removal of Officer Joseph Mensah from the police department. Mensah has been the focal point of Black Lives Matter protests in the mostly white Milwaukee County suburb, having been responsible for three fatal shootings over his five years at the Wauwatosa Police Department (WPD).
“It is time that we acknowledge that, as long as Joseph Mensah is representing the city of Wauwatosa and our Police Department,” wrote Kuhl, “we cannot purport to have any serious conversations about repairing the damage of our past and committing to building a community that is inclusive for all.” Kuhl’s letter was addressed to the Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission, which is set to take up a complaint against Mensah on July 15. The complaint was filed by one of the lawyers representing the families of those he killed.
“Last year,” Kuhl writes in her letter, “Wauwatosa acknowledged our racist history and our genuine desire as a Council and community to make Tosa a more inclusive and welcoming place with the formation of the Equity and Inclusion Committee. Last week we approved the formation of an ad-hoc committee that will help break down the overwhelming task of addressing the systemic racism that exists in every aspect of our society.”
The Common Council has also moved to fast-track a body camera program for every officer. In all three of Mensah’s shootings, the limitations of footage presented challenges for investigators. Tosa officers, other than the few assigned to the motorcycle patrol, are not issued body cameras. Motorcycle officers are given body cameras because their police-issued bikes don’t have dash cameras.
Despite the new policy developments, one of the demands from protesters and grieving families has yet to be met. Mensah is currently on paid administrative duty, which is in accordance with Wisconsin law for police shootings. The Black Lives Matter movement is demanding that Mensah be fired from WPD.
“I strongly encourage the members of the Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission to correct the mistakes of leadership that empowered this officer to fire six bullets into Jay Anderson, eight bullets into Antonio Gonzalez, and four bullets into Alvin Cole,” Kuhl wrote. “Remove Officer Mensah from his position on the Wauwatosa Police Department and start rebuilding public trust in our PD and our elected officials.” Kuhl requested that the city clerk include her letter in the Police and Fire Commission’s agenda packet for its July 15 meeting.
Reprinted with permission of Wisconsin Examiner.
More about the 2020 Racial Justice Protests
- Op Ed: ‘We Need More’ - Charles Q. Sullivan - Mar 4th, 2022
- Milwaukee Officers Circulate “2020 Riot” Coins? - Isiah Holmes - Nov 14th, 2021
- City Hall: Police Department Tweets Lied To Public - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 27th, 2021
- Lawmakers Request Civil Rights Probe of Tosa PD - Isiah Holmes - Jul 23rd, 2021
- How Does Police Reform Compare To Other Cities? - Jeramey Jannene - Jun 14th, 2021
- Bowen Introduces Package of Policing Bills - Isiah Holmes - Jun 4th, 2021
- Activists Reflect on a Year of Protest - Isiah Holmes - Jun 3rd, 2021
- One Year After George Floyd’s Death - Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service - May 30th, 2021
- Op Ed: After a Year of Protests What’s Changed? - Angela Lang - May 27th, 2021
- Film: Bullhorn Films Documents Protests - Michael Holloway - May 20th, 2021
Read more about 2020 Racial Justice Protests here
More about the Case of Officer Joseph Mensah
- Special Prosecutors Won’t File Charges in Jay Anderson Killing - Isiah Holmes - Jun 2nd, 2022
- Did Tosa Police Withhold Phone Data? - Isiah Holmes - Mar 20th, 2022
- Three Tosa Police Given Immunity in Jay Anderson Probe - Isiah Holmes - Feb 1st, 2022
- Special Prosecutors Appointed in Case Against Joseph Mensah - Corri Hess - Dec 8th, 2021
- Supervisor Clancy Applauds Probable Cause Decision in Death of Jay Anderson, Jr. - Sup. Ryan Clancy - Jul 29th, 2021
- Rep. Bowen Statement on John Doe Charging Decision Against Joseph Mensah - State Rep. David Bowen - Jul 28th, 2021
- Closing Arguments Delivered On Jay Anderson’s Killing - Isiah Holmes - May 20th, 2021
- Tosa Police Had Many ‘High Value Targets’ - Isiah Holmes - May 12th, 2021
- Tosa Police Chief Testifies About Mensah - Corri Hess - May 4th, 2021
- Body Cameras Key To Charges Against Police - Corri Hess - May 4th, 2021
Read more about Case of Officer Joseph Mensah here