'I Am Speaking,' Tosa Alderwoman Says To Police Chief At Meeting

WAUWATOSA, WI— A heated debate between an alderwoman and the Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber briefly interrupted the Wauwatosa Government Affairs Committee meeting on Tuesday night.

One of the items on the agenda was to discuss, but not make a motion, on the correspondence from the Wauwatosa Peace Officers Association. John Milotzky, president of the WPOA, which functions as the Wauwatosa Police Department's union, said there hasn't been any action on any of the letters.

Several letters pertained to John Larry, Chair of the Government Affairs Ad-Hoc Committee on issues related to Policing and Racial Equity.

The letters said Larry had some altercations with Wauwatosa Police in the past. The WPOA is requesting the removal of Larry from the committee.

Alderman Matt Stippich said based on the correspondence, Larry "has views or affiliations with The People's Revolution," a group that has been protesting police conduct.

"It is felt it impacts the ability of the police to participate in that committee. It makes it very difficult for that committee to function," Stippich said of the correspondence.

Alderwoman Nancy Welch defended Larry and said he is "doing a perfectly fine job as chair and has not brought in any of his personal opinions in an attempt to skew the behavior of the committee."

Welch said what is concerning is the lack of corporation from the police department and WPOA. She said the police department is "basically saying they won't cooperate with a committee created by the Common Council and I have a problem with that," she said.

Weber interrupted Welch several times and told her "not to lie."

"I am speaking and you will not interrupt me," Welch said to Weber.

Welch pointed out this was an example of the problem.

"We have a police department that thinks they can operate outside of a process that has been established to have a reasonable conversation about what needs to happen," Welch said.

She added the union "attacks any member of the committee that expresses an opinion contrary to the police department."

Welch told the committee the ad-hoc worked together peacefully on the police body cameras policy.

"By acting this way, conflict is being created that doesn't need to be there," Welch said.

Milotzky mentioned the incident where Joseph Mensah, a suspended Wauwatosa police officer who was involved in three fatal shootings, was attacked and shot in August. Three men were charged for involvement with the incident.

Mensah was recently cleared by the DA's Office in early October for the shooting of Alvin Cole.

Milotzky said shortly after news of the men being arrested, Larry was in the police station "trying to use his position to make demands on behalf of those members. Also announced his affiliations with those same actors who committed the acts."

"To put the blame on us, we find offensive as well," he said.

Police needed at meetings

Alderman Jason Kofroth said it is unfortunate the ad-hoc has done very little over the last few months.

"If anyone watched the last (ad-hoc) meeting, it is apparent that there is a need for the police department to be a part of the meetings," Kofroth said.

Kofroth said police should be present at the meetings as the issues directly impacting them. He added police are the most qualified to give members information related to the topic.

The alderman also said from correspondence and Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber's comments a few weeks ago, "They (police) will no longer work with the ad-hoc with the chair in place. They made that decision publicly," Kofroth said.

The police chief briefly spoke and said he wasn't interested in pointing fingers about who should be or not be on the committee. He agreed with the messages the WPOA has sent.

"I don't like hearing we are refusing to participate. We have participated," Weber said.

He added it was ridiculous to have a body camera policy that comes from an ad-hoc committee and recording "the chairman of the ad-hoc committee threatening a police officer."

"How can we sit down at the table and discuss a policy or how we will do policing with someone who is threatening police officers. For some reason we take no action against that," Weber said.