Bucks Player, City Reach $750,000 Settlement
City admits police violated Sterling Brown's constitutional rights in notorious incident.
Police Body Camera Video of Sterling Brown Arrest
Milwaukee Bucks guard Sterling Brown has reached a settlement agreement with the City of Milwaukee regarding his January 2018 encounter with the Milwaukee Police Department that generated national attention and widespread condemnation. The city will pay Brown $750,000, admit a constitutional violation of Brown’s rights and commit to update MPD standard operating procedures within 180 days.
Brown, an African American, was observed having parked across handicapped spaces outside of a Walgreens at S. 27th St. and W. National Ave. at 2 a.m. A responding officer called for backup within moments of arriving on the scene, which escalated to Brown being tased and thrown to the ground.
Brown, 25, was never charged and body camera footage shows officers being confrontational with Brown from the outset of the interaction.
Milwaukee police officer Erik Andrade was fired after he posted racially charged remarks on social media about Brown following the incident.
Brown’s attorney Mark Thomsen previously said that getting the city to admit it violated his client’s rights was an important part of any settlement. The city offered a $400,000 settlement in 2019, but it was viewed as unlikely to be accepted and publicly declared as part of a legal strategy to protect the city against claims for attorney’s fees should the case go to court.
Brown had sued the city in federal court over the matter.
The settlement agreement, submitted for review last week, includes attorney’s fees and costs. Negotiated by the independent City Attorney, it still requires Common Council approval.
A letter introducing the settlement agreement was submitted to the council by City Attorney Tearman Spencer and assistant city attorney Robin A. Pederson.
The city would pay for the settlement with new borrowing. The measure would follow a $4 million settlement approved Tuesday for the family of Sylville Smith who was killed by an MPD officer near Sherman Park in 2016. That settlement is expected to cost the city $480,000 per year over 10 years.
The city has paid over $20 million in police misconduct lawsuits since 2015. That total grows by several million when borrowing costs are included.
Brown was a highly-visible participant in the team’s participation in racial justice protest marches this summer.
Legislation Link - Urban Milwaukee members see direct links to legislation mentioned in this article. Join today
If you think stories like this are important, become a member of Urban Milwaukee and help support real, independent journalism. Plus you get some cool added benefits.
Related Legislation: File 200980
Any reports of what Sterling Brown plans to do with the settlement? Specifically, does he plan to donate it to community efforts?
That money should come from police pension, or even police salaries across the board.