Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 00:04:16 -0700
To: Blog post at TUPOCC
From: Info TUPOCC <info@tupocc.thinkhost.com>
Subject: [tupocc] This isn't justified, this is homocide.
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Milwaukee Police Accountability Coalition (MPAC)
719 S. 6th Street * Milwaukee, WI 53202
414/273-9777 or 414/379-0049 email: mattnelson64@hotmail.com
"Police brutality is the use of excessive or unnecessary force by police officers
with the purpose or expectation of causing death, bodily harm, or mental harm."
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Milwaukee Police Accountability Coalition (MPAC)
Demands For McCann: May 22, 2006
1. Sign and press criminal charges against MPD Officer Alfonzo Glover in connection with the assault, battery, death and other physical harm committed against Wilbert Prado by law enforcement officers in the City of Milwaukee.
2. Press criminal charges against the MPD Officers in connection with the assault, battery, death and other physical harm committed against Juan Perez, Samuel Rodriguez, Justin Fields, Larry Jenkins, and others by law enforcement officers in the City of Milwaukee.
3. Support the effort to bring Federal Criminal Charges against the officers in connection with the assault, battery, and other physical harm committed against Frank Jude in the City of Milwaukee.
4. Cooperate with ongoing and future investigations of Police Brutality committed by MPD Officers in the City of Milwaukee.
We, the Milwaukee Police Accountability Coalition demand a verbal commitment today (May 22, 2006), followed by a written confirmation by Friday May 26, 2006.
Thank you,
Debra Jenkins 414.873.9695, Eddie Perez 414.333.9468, Marilyn Walczak 414.264.6635, and Matt Nelson 414.379.0049 on behalf of the Milwaukee Police Accountability Coalition (MPAC).
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05.21.06 - Please Forward Widely -
Contact: Eddie Perez 414.333.9468, Matt Nelson, mattnelson64@hotmail.com #414.379.0049 or Carey Jenkins #414.788.3868.
MPAC TO CONFRONT MCCANN URGING HIM TO SIGN CRIMINAL CHARGES IN THE PRADO KILLING: MONDAY MAY 22, NOON
MCCANN, THE HANDWRITING IS ON THE WALL,
POLICE BRUTALITY IS A CRIME!
On Monday May 22 at 12pm, the Milwaukee Police Accountability Coaltion, including members of the the Prado, Jenkins, Rodriguez, Perez, and Jude family will present demands to District Attorney E. Michael McCann with the purpose of E. Michael McCann signing criminal charges against Officer Alfonzo Glover for killing Wilbert Prado. MPAC sources indicate that the charges are drafted, finalized and awaiting McCann’s signature.
When: Monday May 22, 2006
Where: Office of E. Michael McCann, 821 W State Street (Safety Building) 4th Floor,
Wilbert Prado, an unarmed man, was shot eight times, with 19 bullets fired by Officer Alfonzo Glover.
"We have waited a year for criminal charges to be brought against the MPD Officer who killed Mr. Prado. The Prado family and many other families who have been victimized by police violence must have justice." Said Matt Nelson, of MPAC. "The fact that Officer Alfonzo Glover is African-American and Wilbert Prado is Latino should not be used as a way to divide the already united Black and Brown community in fighting police brutality. It is the Color of the Law which allows officers to beat, maim, and kill with impunity not the color of Officer Alfonzo Glover's skin." Continued Nelson.
Wilbert Prado's case is only one example of the many lives that were stolen from Police Brutality in the City of Milwaukee and we demand justice for all of Milwaukee's families vicimized by Police Brutality.
The Milwaukee Police Accountability Coalition (MPAC) stands united for justice and has committed itself to organizing our communities and finding creative solutions to Milwaukee’s police brutality crisis. The recent acquittals of the officers in the Frank Jude beatings and the Larry Jenkins killing have destroyed the public’s trust in the judicial process and illuminated the depth of corruption in the City’s justice system. MPAC has responded and our resolve will hold those accountable who create and benefit from injustice, violence, and police brutality.
The Milwaukee Police Accountability Coalition is made up of local, state, and national organizations and driven by families who have lost loved ones at the hands of the police. We are a multiracial and multigenerational group partnered with Education For The People! and dedicated to working to end police brutality and stop violence in our communities.
"This isn't justified, this is homocide."
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Background Information on the Prado Case:
Holding Them Accountable
Group asks for charges in the Prado murder
By Lisa Kaiser
Shepherd Express, June 2005
The public is speaking out. But is anyone listening?
A group of concerned citizens delivered more than 700 letters of protest to District Attorney E. Michael McCann’s office. An unarmed man, Wilbert Prado, had been shot eight times, with 19 bullets fired, by an off-duty police officer, Alfonzo Glover.
The group feels that justice is not being served after an inquest jury determined that Glover was justified in shooting and killing Prado in a South Side alley.
The inquest jury’s findings are only advisory. McCann can still choose to press charges if he feels it’s warranted.
"McCann is an elected official and represents the people," said Robert Miranda, who helped organize the letter-writing campaign. "The inquest only provided an advisory recommendation. But we’re saying that the people advise that you should do something different."
Matt Nelson, executive director of Education for the People, said that McCann will decide in a few weeks whether to bring charges against Glover, and public input such as the letters may play a role in his decision. "The court should hear it. McCann has everything he needs," Nelson said. "McCann can show some leadership. It’s best for the family and the community if he brings criminal charges."
Nelson wasn’t surprised that the jury didn’t recommend charges, even though Glover admitted to shooting Prado. No inquest jury in Milwaukee County has recommended pressing charges against officers in fatal shootings in the past 20 years.
"It’s difficult to prove a case against an officer," said Rep. Fred Kessler (D-Milwaukee), a former judge. Kessler noted that officers have statutory rights that the average person doesn’t have. Plus, jurors tend to side with police officers. "Generally, the community holds a police officer in higher regard," Kessler said. "To press charges, you need another officer to testify or video evidence of misconduct."
Kessler said that he couldn’t remember any district attorney who pressed charges after an inquest jury advised dropping a case, as Prado’s supporters want McCann to do. "It would be highly unusual," Kessler said. "The DA is holding all of the cards. He’s bringing evidence and questioning witnesses. If he can’t convince the inquest jury with no opposition, then he won’t file charges."
According to many, the inquest system itself is flawed. In an inquest, one side presents its case, with no cross-examination and no advocate for the victim. The defendant may have a lawyer, but the district attorney is responsible for presenting the case. The jury must return a verdict based upon a finding of probable cause.
That seems pretty straightforward, but in cases that involve a police officer—such as Prado’s—the results seem skewed in favor of the officer. A recently introduced piece of legislation would create changes in how inquests are created and conducted when the defendant is a law enforcement officer. The bill, authored by Milwaukee representatives Annette (Polly) Williams and Pedro Colon, would give the state attorney general the authority to call an inquest and appoint a special prosecutor to conduct the proceedings. This would take the case out of the district attorney’s hands. It would also allow certain relatives of the victim to be represented by an attorney, who would be able to subpoena witnesses, examine or cross-examine any witnesses and argue before the court. The bill would also prohibit inquests into cases involving officers from being conducted in secret, which is currently allowed.
Although inquest juries as they’re currently organized haven’t recommend charges to be brought against cops, they do serve a purpose. According to some in the legal community, they provide cover for the district attorney because if he doesn’t feel that there’s enough evidence, he doesn’t have to press charges and can say that he presented the case for additional scrutiny and the inquest jury agreed with him.
Nelson said that as flawed as the current inquest process is, it was a victory of sorts for Prado’s relatives and supporters. "There wouldn’t have been an inquest if there hadn’t been public outrage and mobilization," he said.
At the moment, that outrage may be the community’s best resource, since working through the system isn’t resulting in charges being filed against allegedly reckless police officers such as Glover. Another avenue for public complaints, the Fire and Police Commission, has received 817 citizen complaints since 1999, according to Nelson. But the commission has never found officer wrongdoing in any of these cases. Even the Milwaukee circuit court found that the commission wasn’t effective in evaluating the public’s complaints.
"This lack of accountability and oversight encourages police brutality," Nelson said.
To address this, Nelson and Education for the People want to establish a civilian review board to investigate police misconduct. According to the group’s proposal, it would be made up of elected members who could issue subpoenas, impose punishment and offer rewards to officers who come forward with information about police misconduct. It would be politically insulated from the police department.
"We want a professional police force," Nelson said. "One that protects civil rights and protects neighborhoods. Incidents like Prado and Frank Jude compromise relationships between the police and the community, and they make the police department reckless."
On June 25, Education for the People and Justice for Wilbert Javier Prado will host a forum on police brutality and accountability. It will be held at 10 a.m. at the Cesar Chavez Action Center at 719 S. 6th St.
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