'I Have No Regrets,' Wauwatosa Mayor Says Of Emergency Curfew

WAUWATOSA, WI— "I don't have any regrets about what we did," Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride said about the city's handling of protests in early October.

On Tuesday, McBride was a featured guest for the Newsmaker Lunch Hour held by the Milwaukee Press Club. He responded to criticism over the city's handling of the protests following the announcement Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah wouldn't face charges in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Cole at the Mayfair Mall in February. A state of emergency and a curfew was imposed in the city of Wauwatosa. Protests and unrest followed for over five days.

McBride added if had to change anything, he would have made the curfew for 7 p.m. and not 9 p.m. He said the later curfew would've given several more hours for people to demonstrate.

"But as my wife said to me, the protesters would have still objected to any curfew, and she’s probably right," McBride said. "But at least it would have given people a few more hours."

McBride added he wasn't suppressing protests and people had all day to protest. The curfew was imposed to deter outside agitators from "stirring up trouble," McBride said.

"It was there to protect people living, working, and coming through Wauwatosa," he said.

He said during the event no one seriously hurt and that was the primary goal.

On Oct. 8, the mother and other siblings of a 17-year-old shot to death by a police officer were arrested by Wauwatosa police. The arrests came after police enforced people who violated the 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 camera Oct. 13 near North 65 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 shows an apparent arrest of a bicyclist and a struggle. In the video, some type of smoke agent was thrown at the group of protesters.

"I would've been so criticized if what happened in Kenosha happened in Wauwatosa all over again after the lessons of Kenosha," McBride said. "If someone had gotten killed, if someone had gotten hurt, had buildings been burned down, I would've had that on my conscience for the rest of my life and I would've deserved all the criticism I received after that."

McBride said in a democracy some people agree with you while others don't. He said he was elected to serve a four-year term and intends to do what is right for Wauwatosa.

"If they don't like it, they can vote me out," he said.