Groups ‘appalled’ by Barrett’s FPC pick

Letter says Gielow has no sense of city’s climate

Eight social justice groups say they are “appalled” by Mayor Tom Barrett’s choice of William Gielow for the city’s Fire and Police Commission.

Gielow, a retired deputy police chief, moved a step closer to joining the powerful civilian oversight board on Thursday.

Common Council must approve his nomination and could take a vote as soon as its July 31 meeting.

In an open letter to Barrett, the groups said Gielow “has no sense of the climate of this city” and “could not answer the question of what the most important issues” are for the board.

At public forums and before a council committee, Gielow has acknowledged he has “to do some catching up” after being retired from the Police Department for 17 years.

In committee, council members praised his service on the Police Department, with Ald. Terry Witkowski calling him “an extremely fair person.”

The main concern voiced by some aldermen was confirming a new Barrett appointee when the mayor has not said if he would reappoint current board members who want to continue to serve.

Common Council members have sent letters to Barrett urging him to fill the commission with nine board members and to reappoint Steven DeVougas and Marisabel Cabrera.

The open community letter echoed those demands. It was signed by the African American Roundtable, 9to5 Wisconsin, Coalition for Justice, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, Priceless Incite, Rid Racism, Uplifting Black Liberation and Community (UBLAC) and YWCA Southeast Wisconsin.

Desiree Brown, whose nephew, Antwon Springer, was shot and killed by police last year, also signed the letter and has spoken out against Gielow’s appointment in public meetings.

The commission can have up to nine members; it traditionally has had seven. Right now, the board has six active members, meaning there is no tiebreaking vote.

There’s been a longstanding push from several aldermen and public safety unions to have commission members with firefighting and policing experience.

Barrett has said he thought having board members who are longtime retirees would bring that experience and lessen the odds of conflicts of interest with current department members.

A spokeswoman for Barrett did not immediately respond to questions Friday about the appointment process and the letter.