Number
111733
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. COGGS, HINES, HAMILTON, WADE AND KOVAC
Title
Substitute resolution urging transparency in the Milwaukee Police Department and Board of Fire and Police Commissioners investigations of alleged strip searches and body cavity searches by members of the Milwaukee Police Department.
Analysis
This resolution urges the Milwaukee Police Department and the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners to strive for and maintain transparency in their investigations of alleged illegal strip searches and body cavity searches by MPD personnel. It further requests the Police Department and Board of Fire and Police Commissioners to report the findings of their investigations, highlighting the lessons learned from those investigations, within 30 days of conclusion of the investigations.
Body
Whereas, Milwaukee County prosecutors have undertaken a secret John Doe investigation to determine whether 7 Milwaukee Police Department police officers and one supervisor (sergeant) in District 5 have been conducting illegal strip searches; and
Whereas, This investigation was initiated by the Milwaukee Police Department, which reached out to the Milwaukee County District Attorney and the United States Attorney’s Office regarding the alleged illegal activity; and
Whereas, The complaints against these MPD personnel include allegations that they sexually assaulted people and violated their civil rights while conducting body cavity (rectal) searches for illegal drugs; and
Whereas, Both MPD policy and state law prohibit police personnel from conducting body cavity searches under any circumstances; and
Whereas, A body cavity search may only be conducted by a doctor, physician assistant or registered nurse upon the issuance of a search warrant; and
Whereas, In addition to being illegal, the alleged activities could seriously harm police-community relations in Milwaukee, undoing the progress that has been made in that area over the past several years; and
Whereas, The Milwaukee Police Department has launched its own internal investigation into whether the alleged activity violates department policy, state law or both; and
Whereas, The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners is also investigating complaints relating to illegal strip searches by MPD personnel; and
Whereas, The residents of Milwaukee generally, and police-community relations specifically, would benefit greatly from maximum transparency in the investigations of these complaints against MPD members; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Milwaukee Common Council urges the Milwaukee Police Department and the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners to strive for and maintain transparency in their investigations of alleged illegal strip searches and body cavity searches by MPD personnel; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Police Department and Board of Fire and Police Commissioners are requested to report the findings of their investigations, highlighting the lessons learned from those investigations, within 30 days of conclusion of the investigations.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB138174-2
Jeff Osterman
04/11/2012