Promotion delayed for sergeant in Jude case
The Milwaukee police sergeant who was accused of participating in a “code of silence” culture after the 2004 beating of Frank Jude will have to interview with the Fire and Police Commission before securing his promotion to lieutenant.
Sgt. Bradley Blum was one of five names up for promotion to lieutenant Thursday, but the commission unanimously decided to table his promotion for two weeks, after it gets the chance to interview him in private.
In addition, the commission on Thursday tabled a discussion about removing an exception to the Milwaukee Police Department’s use-of-force policy that allows for officers to use a chokehold only in a life-or-death situation.
Blum was fired in 2005 for gross neglect of duty and failing to protect Jude as off-duty officers beat him outside of a Bay View party, but the commission overturned his termination and instead imposed two 60-day suspensions.
Blum was promoted to sergeant six years ago under similar circumstances. The commission back then tabled his promotion for two weeks and met with then-Chief Edward Flynn in a closed session meeting.
His promotion was approved 4-1, with two votes in his favor coming from Fred Crouther and Ann Wilson, who remain on the commission today.
Lieutenants often act as a shift commander or unit supervisor under the direction of their captain or another highranking officer, according to the Milwaukee Police Department. They are also given training and disciplinary responsibilities for personnel under their command.
Blum was not charged in Jude’s beating, but his testimony during the ensuing legal proceedings drew accusations that he participated in a “code of silence” culture to protect other officers who were charged.
During the state criminal trial of three off-duty officers, Blum contradicted four other witnesses and said he never saw anyone kick or assault Jude. He said he was 30 feet from where the attack happened and saw two or three punches and nothing else. The Milwaukee County district attorney at the time called his testimony “preposterous.”
In a deposition for a civil case regarding the beating, Blum invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination over the course of an hour. The only question he answered was his name.
The district attorney and Jude’s lawyer, Jonathan Safran, both said Blum seemed to be part of a “code of silence” culture within the police department.
Commission considers complete chokehold ban
In December, the commission unanimously approved a series of changes to the police department’s standard operating procedure about the use of force. Among those changes was a ban on chokeholds, unless officers are caught in a life-or-death situation.
Thursday, the commission discussed the possibility of removing that exception, but tabled a possible vote on the matter until its March 18 meeting.
Many police departments in the U.S., especially after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd and killed him last spring, have banned the use of chokeholds. But it’s not clear how prevalent complete bans are, with no exceptions for self-defense, according to Nancy La Vigne, the executive director of the Council on Criminal Justice.
The national Eight Can’t Wait campaign, which advocates for tighter useof-force policies, recommends complete bans on chokeholds.
At least half of the commission said they support a complete ban. But Acting Police Chief Jeffrey Norman, who is a lawyer, said a complete ban would conflict with state law that allows citizens to use deadly force, with no limitations, as self-defense.
During an hourlong discussion, Norman repeatedly said that he felt it would be challenging to limit what an officer can do if they are in a struggle for their life. He emphasized, however, that chokeholds are not acceptable in general, and called them “ugly.”
In December, when the commission passed its ban with the exception, there was no pushback from police officials or from the Milwaukee Police Association, the union representation rank-and-file officers.
Dale Bormann Jr., the president of the union, called the proposal “a major issue” and said he plans to fight it.
“We’re against chokeholds, but not as a last resort,” he said. “I’m going to use whatever means that I have to save my own life. I expect other people to do the same thing too, civilians or suspects. They’re going to do whatever it takes to protect that.”