Joseph Mensah To Resign From Wauwatosa Police Department

WAUWATOSA,WI — After meeting in closed session, the Wauwatosa Common Council entered into a separation agreement late Tuesday, between Joseph Mensah, the Wauwatosa Peace Officer’s Association, and the City of Wauwatosa.

As part of this agreement, Mensah is resigning effective November 30. The city has asked the Police and Fire Commission to meet as soon as practical to dismiss the charges pending against Mensah as he will no longer be an employee of the City of Wauwatosa.

Mayor McBride said, "Now is the time for all of us to come together and heal. We've made substantial progress during 2020, and in the coming year we'll continue to focus on positive change for our community. As before, I'm committed to working with the Common Council, the city's Equity and Inclusion Commission, and members of the public to make that happen."

Kimberley Motley, the attorney representing the families of Cole, Jay Anderson, Jr. and Antonio Gonzales, has repeatedly called for Mensah to be fired. She released the following statement:

"Joseph Mensah’s resignation is long overdue. While we welcome the news; it is tragic that the Wauwatosa Police Department under Chief Weber’s leadership failed to address his shortcomings for years. It is time for new leadership in the Wauwatosa Police Department. The families of Alvin Cole, Jay Anderson, Jr. & Antonio Gonzales will continue to fight for justice. We call on the City of Wauwatosa to IMMEDIATELY fully disclose the terms of its agreement with Joseph Mensah to the public."

Mensah, who was involved in the shooting deaths of three people of color in the last five years, was suspended with pay in July, but according to online court records dated Sept. 9, he is appealing the decision.

Background

The Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission was set to hear evidence against Mensah on Dec. 16. In August, the commission voted unanimously to move forward with pre-hearing scheduling deadlines on the pending charges filed against Mensah.

Motley, who represents two of the families of the shooting victims, filed the complaint with city officials in June. Motley represents the Cole family as well as the family of Jay Anderson Jr., who was fatally shot by police in 2016.

The complaint called for Mensah's dismissal from the department, a recommendation for criminal charges against the officer, a recommendation that Wauwatosa police officers be outfitted with body cameras, and several open records requests on incidents involving the police department in prior years.

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. Chisholm cleared Mensah of the shooting in December 2016, saying the officer would not face any charges.

In another fatal shooting, 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.

Protests and Unrest

In early October, Mensah learned he will not face charges in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Cole at the Mayfair Mall in February. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm released the following statement:

"There is sufficient evidence that Officer Mensah had an actual subjective belief that deadly force was necessary and that belief was objectively reasonable," Chisholm said in a 14-page document addressed to Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber. "I do not believe that the State could disprove self-defense or defense of others in this case and therefore could not meet the burden required to charge Officer Mensah."

A state of emergency and a curfew was imposed in the city of Wauwatosa following the decision. Protests and unrest followed for over five days. On Oct. 8, Cole's mother and other siblings were arrested by Wauwatosa police. The arrests came after police enforced 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. Team ROC organized a rally in October to demand justice for Alvin Cole. The release said former Milwaukee Bucks standout and Wisconsin native Caron Butler has offered to cover funds that will pay for Alvin's headstone and will be working with Team ROC on the donation. The organization offered to pay bail and citation fees for all of the protesters arrested in Wauwatosa on Oct. 8, according to a news release.