Wauwatosa Police Officer Suspended With Pay Appeals Decision

WAUWATOSA, WI— Joseph Mensah, the Wauwatosa police officer involved in the shooting deaths of three people of color in the last five years, is appealing his suspension.

Mensah was suspended with pay in July, but according to online court records dated Sept. 9, he is appealing the decision.

The Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission will meet on Thursday to discuss the pending litigation but may go into closed session.

In August, The Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission voted unanimously to move forward with pre-hearing scheduling deadlines on the pending charges filed against Officer Joseph Mensah.

Mensah's attorney Jonathan Cermele didn't respond to Patch as of Wednesday afternoon.

An attorney representing the family of Jay Anderson Jr., Kimberly Motley, filed the complaint with city officials in June. 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.

Jay 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. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm cleared Mensah of the shooting in December 2016, saying the officer would not face any charges.

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.

Mensah was also involved in the fatal shooting of Alvin Cole outside Mayfair Mall in February. This case is currently in the hands of Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.

This story will be updated when more is learned.