Former U.S. Attorney Report: Tosa Officer Should Be fired

WAUWATOSA, WI— The Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission Received a report from Former U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic Regarding Officer Joseph Mensah.

According to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the report said Biskupic recommended Mensah be fired. The report was made public the same day Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm is expected to decide whether to charge Mensah in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Alvin Cole.

Biskupic said in his report, by not firing the officer, it allows Mensah to continue to work as an officer provides potential for him to use deadly force for a fourth time and causes risk to the city and police force, according to the Sentinel.

Biskupic delivered his report to the Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission on Wednesday, according to the city's website. The Wauwatosa City Attorney, Alan Kesner, said the report wouldn't be released until five days after an open records request was made. The five days would give the parties involved time to object to the request.

Mensah was involved in three fatal shootings over the past five years.

Jay Anderson Jr. was fatally shot at Madison Park in June 2016 after an officer, later identified by officials as Mensah, responded to a report of suspicious vehicle parked outside Madison Park around 3 a.m. Reports indicated the officer encountered Anderson in possession of a gun inside the vehicle. Authorities said the officer feared for his safety and fired his gun into the car, killing Anderson. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm cleared Mensah of the shooting in December 2016, saying the officer would not face any charges.

Antonio Gonzalez was shot and killed in July 2015 by Mensah and fellow officer Jeffrey Newman after authorities said Gonzalez swung a sword and refused to drop it. Authorities determined the officers shot at Gonzalez in self-defense. Mensah and the fellow officer were cleared by prosecutors later that year.

Mensah was also involved in the fatal shooting of Cole outside Mayfair Mall in February 2020.

Read the full story at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.