Advocate dies in crash
Ceasar Stinson was killed in an accident with a sheriff deputy’s squad car.
The man killed in a car crash involving a Milwaukee County Sheriff ’s squad car has been identified as 47-year-old Ceasar Stinson, a community advocate and Milwaukee Public Schools lobbyist.
The medical examiner’s office confirmed his death Monday afternoon.
Stinson was a legislative policy specialist and licensed lobbyist at MPS.
Friends and co-workers said Monday that he spent his life working with other community leaders to improve the lives of the city’s youth.
Walter Lanier, a pastor of the Progressive Baptist Church and the director of community engagement and student resources at MATC said he met Stinson 15 to 20 years ago.
Stinson’s death was disheartening, Lanier said, both for Stinson’s family and for the city.
“I always saw him in the community, building relationships, problem solving, challenging people in productive ways,” he said. “He was a person of depth and contemplation. He was not shallow in any way, and we will need that moving forward: not reactive, not divisive, just pulling people together.”
In 2003, Stinson lost a bid for District 10 alderman, coming in fourth to Milele Coggs, Willie Wade and the winner, Mike McGee.
Paula Wells was his campaign manager.
She said Stinson would show up for Saturday morning community coffee events, helped raise his niece and was a strong advocate for youth during his time at MPS.
“He was a doer, not just a talker; he made sure he was there and rolled up his sleeves,” she said.
At one point, Stinson moved to London, but he returned because he felt there was a need for his work.
“(He had) unwavering loyalty to his community,” she said. “He loved Milwaukee so much that he felt he couldn’t leave it . ... I feel like he sacrificed so much of his life for this city.”
Investigation into the accident
Sgt. Sheronda Grant, spokeswoman for the Milwaukee Police Department, said the Milwaukee police are the lead investigators in the crash, but could not provide any more information Monday.
At a press conference held Saturday, Sheriff Earnell Lucas described the incident as “tragic” and “unfortunate” and said the sheriff’s deputy was in stable condition.
Lucas said the deputy was traveling north on North 10th Street at 11:14 a.m. when he collided with a westbound car on West State Street.
Stinson was in the car and was unable to be revived, despite efforts from the Milwaukee Fire Department. A female passenger in his car was injured.
The deputy was not involved in any police actions, such as a pursuit or attempt to stop the vehicle at the time of the crash, Lucas said.
Stinson is survived by his wife, Chipo; his daughter, Cearra; his niece, Mia; and his sister, Joyce.