Joseph Mensah: Hearing Canceled To Name Special prosecutor

WAUWATOSA, WI—A hearing scheduled for Milwaukee judge to announce a special prosecutor in the court case of former Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah involved in the fatal 2016 shooting of Jay Anderson Jr. has been canceled, according to Kimberly Motley, the attorney representing Anderson's family.

The special prosecutor will determine what charges, if any, can be proven.

Milwaukee County Judge Glenn Yamahiro announced in July there was probable cause to charge Joseph Mensah with homicide with a dangerous weapon.

The judge ruled that the case should be re-examined after Anderson's family asked for a "John Doe" proceeding. The proceeding examines any felony committed by a law enforcement officer while on duty.

Mensah left the Wauwatosa Police Department in November 2020. He was later sworn in as a deputy for the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office in January 2021.

Mensah will continue his assignment as a Detective within the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department as the case proceeds, Waukesha County Sheriff Eric Severson said in a statement.

Mensah has been cleared by the Milwaukee County District Attorney in three separate fatal shootings, with the most recent one being in 2020.

The fatal shooting in question relates to Anderson's death.

Anderson was fatally shot in Madison Park in June 2016 after Mensah responded to a report of a suspicious car. Mensah encountered Anderson and found him in possession of a handgun, police said. The interaction led to him shooting and killing Anderson while he was sitting in his car, police added.

Ethan Duran, Patch Staff, contributed to this report.