Hundreds Speak At Wauwatosa Public Hearing On Race, Police

WAUWATOSA, WI — Activists, residents and supporters spoke for more than three hours Tuesday during a "public listening session" hosted by the Wauwatosa Common Council on race, equity and police issues.

The discussion was held in response to an ongoing investigation of Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah, who has been involved in the deadly shootings of three people of color in the past five years.

WISN reports more than 200 people showed up to the listening session, and public comments lasted longer than three hours.

According to the report, many speakers criticized Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride and called for Mensah and Police Chief Barry Weber to be fired. Several others spoke in favor of the officer and chief, and were met with boos from the crowd.

The current investigation into Mensah's actions was spurred by a complaint from attorney Kimberly Motley, who represents the family of Jay Anderson Jr., who died in a fatal shooting involving Mensah in 2016.

Mensah was later cleared of charges in the shooting by Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, but Motley asserts Mensah violated police protocol in the three incidents and did not receive proper police training.

The complaint called for Mensah's firing and for criminal charges against the officer. It also included a recommendation that Wauwatosa officers be supplied with body cameras and requested open records on police incidents from years prior.

Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission members voted recently to hire Steven M. Biskupic from the law firm Biskupic & Jacobs, SC to investigate the complaint.

Mensah is currently suspended with pay while Biskupic's investigation is underway. Patch recently reported it could take 60 to 90 days for the investigation's results to be returned to Wauwatosa officials.

Last week, the Wauwatosa Common Council passed a resolution calling for Mensah's termination, but the AP reports the decision to fire officers is made by the city's Police and Fire Commission.

After the investigation is complete, the Police and Fire Commission will receive a report.

Commissioners said an evidentiary hearing will come next. At the hearing, attorneys representing Mensah and Anderson's family will be able to present evidence and introduce witness testimony.

District Attorney Chisholm is also handling the case of the February 2020 death of 17-year-old Alvin Cole, who died in a police shooting involving Mensah.

WISN reports Cole's mother, Tracy Cole, was present at the public listening session.

"My baby was only 17 years old, was about to go to college. His dream is gone. All because of this psycho cop, trigger-happy cop, shot his gun 19 times within five years. Ya'll ask me what you can do for me, it is to get this man fired," Cole said, according to the report.

Antonio Gonzalez was also 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.

A GoFundMe account for Mensah has raised more than $42,000 as of Wednesday.

"Although we have received ample support from the Wauwatosa Police Department, Joseph has had to overcome the dissemination of false information about his personal life, slander, and defamation from multiple sources. Joseph has been treated unfairly and unjustly by mob mentality and anti-police rhetoric," Mensah's brother, Christopher, posted on the online fundraising platform.

Patch editors Nikki Gaskins and Scott Anderson contributed to this report.