Former Tosa Officer Mensah Sworn In As Waukesha County Deputy

WAUWATOSA, WI—Joseph Mensah, the former Wauwautosa police officer involved in three fatal police shootings, is now a deputy with the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office.

Waukesha County Sheriff Eric Severson announced the move in a news release:

"I have extended an employment offer to Mr. Joseph Mensah, which he accepted, for the position of Deputy Sheriff. Mr. Mensah progressed through an extensive, thorough, and exhaustive hiring process.

While some have expressed concerns about Mr. Mensah's past uses of force, I assembled a team who exhaustively reviewed Mr. Mensah's previous work history. I have concluded along with Milwaukee DA, Wauwatosa PD, Milwaukee PD, as well as an independent investigation conducted by Wauwatosa Police and Fire commission that Mr. Mensah's use of force was consistent with the Federal and State laws, Wisconsin training, and uniformly applied policy. This is consistent with all other investigations.

Mr. Mensah will enter a supervised field training program where he will be afforded the same opportunities as every other Deputy working for the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office."

Separation agreement with Wauwatosa

Mensah was given nearly $130,000 as part of a separation agreement with Wauwatosa. According to city documents, the city agreed that certain pay and benefits shall be payable to Mensah, including the following:

• All pay earned and not paid through the date of resignation.
• All earned unused and unpaid accrued vacation ($3,687.22), accruing vacation ($4,224.94), overtime ($2,421.66) and professional leave ($322.63).
• Severance payments equivalent to 13 months' pay (through Dec. 31, 2021), minus appropriate payroll tax deductions required by law and Mensah's share of the cost of COBRA health insurance continuation.
• Deferred compensation plan of $19,500.
• A one-time additional severance payment of $15,000, minus appropriate payroll tax deductions required by law, to be made on the city pay date of Dec. 17.

The current annual pay for a Wauwatosa police officer ranges from $56,844 to $79,889, according to the city's website.

Mensah was involved in the shooting deaths of three people of color in the last five years.

Mensah fatally shot Jay Anderson Jr. at Madison Park in June 2016 after Mensah responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked there at about 3 a.m. Mensah reportedly found Anderson with a gun inside the car. Mensah fired and killed Anderson after fearing for his safety, authorities said. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm said he would not bring any charges against Mensah.

Mensah also fatally shot Antonio Gonzalez in July 2015. He and fellow officer Jeffrey Newman encountered Gonzalez swinging a sword, which he refused to drop when ordered, authorities said. Both officers shot Gonzalez in what authorities later determined was self-defense. Prosecutors cleared both Mensah and Newman of criminal liability later in the year.

Protests and unrest

Mensah learned in early October that he would not face charges in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Alvin Cole at the Mayfair Mall last February.

"There is sufficient evidence that Officer Mensah had an actual subjective belief that deadly force was necessary and that belief was objectively reasonable," Chisholm said in a 14-page document addressed to Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber. "I do not believe that the State could disprove self-defense or defense of others in this case and therefore could not meet the burden required to charge Officer Mensah."

A state of emergency and a curfew was declared in Wauwatosa following the decision. Protests and unrest followed for more than five days. Wauwatosa police arrested Cole's mother and other siblings on Oct. 8 after police enforced a 7 p.m. curfew. Tracy, Taleavia and Tristiana Cole were arrested after 9 p.m. near Wauwatosa and Milwaukee avenues. Protests continued after the curfew was lifted on Oct. 12.

A clash between Wauwatosa police and protesters was caught on video on Oct. 13 near North 65th Street and West Meinecke Avenue. A 28-year-old West Allis was arrested, and two officers suffered minor injuries. The video — which has been shared on social media — showed an the apparent arrest of a bicyclist and a struggle. In the video, some type of smoke agent was thrown at the group of protesters.