The Milwaukee Times Newspaper and milwaukeetimesnews.com Milwaukee's Only “Blue Chip” Community Newspaper
Weekly Newspaper
“Journalistic Excellence, Service, Integrity and Objectivity Always”
Vol. 39 • No. 26 • Thurs., July 02, 2020 - Wed., July 08, 2020 • An NCON Publication Serving The Milwaukee Area • 75¢
Families of 3 people killed by same Wauwatosa police officer protest, file complaints; Common Council responds with plans for body cameras All over Wauwatosa on Thursday, June 18, 2020, calls for justice could be heard as the families of three people -- all of whom were killed by the same Wauwatosa police officer -- filed citizen complaints. Four years after Jay Anderson Jr.'s death, his family filed a citizen complaint against the officer who killed him. Police Officer Joseph Mensah has killed three people in five years while on duty. The families of those three young men traveled to Wauwatosa City Hall to file open records requests. Their message was also taken to the Wauwatosa Police Department. Protesters have demanded Mensah's badge -and criminal charges. In 2015, Mensah killed Antonio Gonzales after, police said, he came at officers with a sword.
Pictured (from left) Alvin Cole, Jay Anderson Jr., and Antonio Gonzales. Jay Anderson, Jr., was es were justified. Mensah is shot and killed by Mensah currently on administrative while sitting in his car at duty while the Milwaukee Madison Park in June 2016. County District Attorney's Police said Anderson had a Office reviews the Cole case. The police department had gun. Alvin Cole was killed near no additional comments on Mayfair Mall on Feb. 2, 2020. Thursday. One officer came Police said Cole fired a gun out to speak with the Anderhimself before Mensah re- son family and attorney, only to explain that the police turned fire. Prosecutors ruled that chief, Barry Weber, was unMensah's use of force in the available to speak with them Gonzales and Anderson cas- at the time.
The three families marched in protest on Thursday, ending at Mayfair Mall, brought together by a connection they wish they did not have. In 2015, following the fatal shooting of Gonzales, Mensah was not charged -- nor was he following Anderson's in 2016. Both shootings were investigated and ruled justified. Attorney Kimberly Motley Motley who is representing two of the families -- the Andersons and the Coles -and called on the Wauwatosa police chief to hold Mensah accountable. In addition to wanting Mensah fired and criminally charged, the families said they want all Wauwatosa police officers to wear body cameras to hold every officer accountable. Last week, the Wauwatosa Police Department issued a statement saying it remains committed to being "open
and transparent" in the ongoing Cole investigation. In response to the complant that was filed the Wauwatosa Common Council on Monday, June 29, 2020 took a step toward officers wearing body cameras. During the in-person and virtual committee-of-thewhole meeting Monday night, council members voted unanimously to send the plan to the city's government and financial committees. Equipping Wauwatosa officers with body cameras is a step, protesters said Monday. "I've been wanting this for the last four years, since my son Jay Anderson, Jr., got murdered, so this is a step forward for what I want," said Jay Anderson, Sr. The plan headed to committee calls for body cameras to be implemented, one way or another, within six months' time.
Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. hosts Juneteenth Day "Conquer COVID-19" giveaway event
On Friday, June 19, 2020, the Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. (MHSI) hosted a special event to celebrate Juneteenth Day. As regular Juneteenth Day events were canceled due to coronavirus (COVID-19), MHSI decided to host a "Conquer COVID-19 Safety Kit Giveaway," at their MLK Heritage Health Center, 2555 N. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. The kit contained a mask. gloves,
hand sanitizer and several other items to keep one safe. Besides the free COVID-19 health kits, the event included free on-site COVID-19 testing, the Cream City Medical Society Doctors answering health questions and concerns, and free bag lunches togo from On the Bayou restaurant.
Pictured (from left) are MHSI President/CEO Tito Izard, MD, along with the caterer from On the Bayou and volunteers.
Pictured (from left) MHSI Chief Medical Officer Dr. Aronica Williams, MD, pictured with her sorority sisters from Sigma Gamma Rho. An NCON Communications Publication
Photos By Patricia Milliner
MHSI Teen Volunteers www.milwaukeetimesnews.com