FPC: Tear gas ruling has been ‘exploited’
Agencies across state say they won’t help at DNC
Officials with the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission are defending their directive to cease the use of tear gas and pepper spray as law enforcement agencies are withdrawing from agreements to send personnel to next month’s Democratic National Convention.
The seven commissioners said in a statement Monday that the directive to Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales had been “shamelessly exploited and distorted.”
The FPC statement did not provide examples of what had been distorted or fabricated, nor did it specify the target of its criticism, whether Morales, other department leaders or someone else.
The withdrawals came as Milwaukee’s Fire and Police Commission issued a directive last month to Morales to change department policy to discontinue the use of tear gas and pepper spray. Some departments cited that as the reason for pulling out of the DNC.
The directive — one of a series — also calls for a public accounting of why tear gas and a large volume of oleoresin capscium (pepper spray) were used during recent civil unrest.
Four departments told the Journal Sentinel they were pulling out, citing the restrictions on the use of tear gas and pepper spray.
Milwaukee police said in a statement that the department “remains committed to timely complying with each of the directives issued.”
Morales spoke to several media outlets last week and told at least one that more than 100 law enforcement agencies had backed out of agreements with the city for security at the convention. In a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice sent two weeks ago, Milwaukee officials listed fewer than 60 partner agencies as assisting with DNC security.
Police confirmed last week that more than 100 law enforcement agencies are
no longer assisting with the event.
In the statement, the FPC said the country and city “stand at a crucial crossroads.”
“We are in the midst of an urgent and overdue national reckoning on race and policing in this country. Only with transparency, accountability and truth will we move forward as a society,” the statement says.
The FPC statement said the discussion might make some people uncomfortable or fearful, “but that is no excuse for political fabrications and feeble attempts to gaslight the public about our steadfast commitment to public safety.”
The statement said the commission makes the city’s safety the top priority, including the DNC.
Departments last week expressed concerns that they would not be able to respond effectively if protests during the DNC turn violent.
“Our concern is that in the event protests turn non-peaceful, such a policy would remove tools from officers that may otherwise be legal and justifiable to utilize in specific situations,” West Allis Deputy Chief Robert Fletcher said in an email.
The decision to withdraw was not done lightly, he said, but the department believed such a policy would compromise the safety of officers and the public.
Franklin Police Chief Rick Oliva raised similar concerns in a letter he sent to Morales stating that his agency was no longer sending personnel to assist at the convention “due to recent decisions by Milwaukee elected and appointed officials.”
Other agencies remain, while some have stepped back for other reasons. And some agencies are still planning to send officers to assist with the event.
Contact Alison Dirr at 414-224-2383 or adirr@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter @AlisonDirr.
Contact Mary Spicuzza at 414-2242324 or mary.spicuzza@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MSpicuzzaMJS.