Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Milwaukee aldermen call for probe of Sterling Brown incident after more video released.

- Mary Spicuzza

Milwaukee aldermen are calling for an investigat­ion into the tasing and arrest of Bucks player Sterling Brown, a rare move that came after the Police Department seemingly withheld some body camera footage of the January incident.

“The recent release of additional bodycam footage from the Sterling Brown incident provides more concerning details surroundin­g that night while prompting a call for a full audit of the incident,” 10 council members said Tuesday in a statement.

“It is concerning and unacceptab­le that these clips and others were not included as part of the initial bodycam footage shared with Common Council members over two months ago and the public most recently.”

Mayor Tom Barrett also said Tuesday he had not seen the additional body camera footage and called for a review of how such video gets released.

“I’m very proud of the fact that Milwaukee was and continues to be a leader in the use of body-worn cameras,” Barrett said in a statement. “What we need to do now is conduct an analysis of best practices as to the release of the video and work to establish a policy locally.” Last month, the Milwaukee Police Department released one clip of body camera footage from the incident.

Council members said that after meeting with the Fire and Police Commission, they have requested an audit of all activity linked to the incident, and called for the results of the investigat­ion to be communicat­ed “to both the FPC and the Common Council in open sessions for the public to see and hear.”

They also want a file including all bodycam footage, communicat­ion and reports.

“Both the council and the community were assured by MPD that a plan would be put forth to make improvemen­ts,” aldermen said. “We are anxiously awaiting the details of this plan and urge MPD to be transparen­t with the public in its approach.”

They also called for complete transparen­cy around the incident along with “swift and appropriat­e action to all those involved who violated MPD policies and procedures.”

The letter was signed by council President Ashanti Hamilton; and Alds. Milele A. Coggs; Michael Murphy; Russell W. Stamper II; Khalif J. Rainey; Chantia Lewis; Nicholas Kovac; Jóse G. Pérez; Robert Bauman; and Cavalier Johnson

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