MILWAUKEE – The ACLU of Wisconsin Wednesday filed a series of open records requests related to the conduct of out-of-state law enforcement agencies brought to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention.
The records requests follow the July 16 killing of Samuel Sharpe Jr. by Columbus, Ohio Police, spurring outrage and confusion in the Milwaukee community, and the dubious arrest of an activist by Fort Worth, Texas officers that occurred on the same day.
After the killing, Milwaukee Police revealed outside agencies were also independently stationed in areas outside the previously published perimeter of the RNC. However, they did not communicate the new zone information to the community and failed to accompany out-of-state units, as was previously promised.
These incidents raise serious concerns about the actions of outside police forces and call into question whether procedures established to regulate out-of-state police during the convention were adequate and properly followed.
The ACLU of Wisconsin is requesting the following information:
- Wisconsin government agreements with out-of-state law enforcement agencies, including but not limited to Columbus, Ohio, and Fort Worth, Texas
- All training and briefing materials provided by the Milwaukee Police Department to law enforcement agencies coming into Milwaukee
- The identities of officers involved in the incidents
- All materials regarding how incidents involving out-of-state officers are to be investigated
Next week, the organization said it would also file additional open records requests with the out-of-state agencies to release all body camera footage of the incidents.
“Long before the start of the RNC, Milwaukee residents were concerned about how the city was preparing to adequately manage, regulate, and oversee more than 4,000 additional law enforcement officers traveling from outside Milwaukee to the convention. Now that our worst fears have come true, we need answers. Whether from in-state or not, police transparency and accountability to the public is an absolute necessity,” said ACLU of Wisconsin Executive Director Dr. Melinda Brennan.
“Over and over again, local officials – while mostly refusing to take the public’s input into account – assured the community that out-of-state officers would be held to the same standards as the Milwaukee Police Department and that they would only be permitted to provide security for the convention, policing nowhere outside of the security zone.
After five Columbus, Ohio police officers shot and killed a Milwaukee man well outside the publicly disclosed security perimeter in an incident having nothing to do with the RNC, community members are demanding an explanation. We are requesting these records to find some answers that shed light on whether these police were complying with the rules of engagement their agencies agreed to."
