MILWAUKEE - The ACLU of Wisconsin made the following statement today following the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Kevan Ruffin, a Black man with a reported history of mental health issues, by Sheboygan Police early Thursday morning.
“Because we have seen such a national pattern of police using excessive and often fatal force against people of color during routine encounters, as well as against people with mental health conditions, we need to know why Sheboygan police killed Mr. Ruffin instead of handling this in a nonviolent way,” said Chris Ott, Executive Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin. “This tragedy raises fresh, painful questions about the need for racial justice and police accountability.”
Sheboygan Police have reportedly refused to answer questions about the incident and said that the investigation into Ruffin’s death is now being handled by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
“Establishing community trust requires interactions between residents and law enforcement,” said Marcos Guevara, an ACLU staff member and longtime Sheboygan resident. “One way to show that questions are being heard is to take steps to ensure the whole community that the investigation into Mr. Ruffin’s killing will be comprehensive, unbiased, and transparent."
