Number
200218
Version
SUBSTITUTE 2
Reference
180898
Sponsor
ALD. LEWIS, DODD, AND COGGS
Title
Substitute resolution directing the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek introduction and passage of legislation making race-based acts of unnecessarily summoning a police officer a hate crime.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek introduction and passage of legislation making race-based acts of unnecessarily summoning a police officer a hate crime.
Body
Whereas, Black and brown individuals in the United States performing daily tasks are often the subject of unjustified 911 calls, which can potentially lead to dangerous consequences for individuals who have been falsely accused of crimes; and
Whereas, The recent incident in New York City in which a black man who was birdwatching had the police called on him for no legitimate reason has helped bring the issue of unnecessarily summoning a police officer to national attention; and
Whereas, In August 2018, a person unjustifiably called the police on Wisconsin State Representative Shelia Stubbs, a black woman, as she walked around a neighborhood in Madison, Wisconsin, knocking on doors while canvassing for an election; and
Whereas, Questioning and investigations by police based on false information perpetuate an attitude of mistrust that many black and brown communities feel toward police departments; and
Whereas, Involving the police in unnecessary situations is a waste of police department resources and a distraction from real crime; and
Whereas, Legislators in the State of New York have introduced Assembly Bill A3566, which would amend the law regarding first, second, and third degree false reporting of incidents by specifying them as hate crimes; and
Whereas, if passed, Wisconsin 2019 Assembly Bill 755 would make it a Class C misdemeanor to unlawfully summon a law enforcement officer and Wisconsin 2019 Assembly Bill 920 creates a civil cause of action for unnecessarily summoning a law enforcement officer; and
Whereas, Under Wisconsin State law, a perpetrator commits a hate crime when he or she intentionally selects a person or his or her property based on race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, or national origin, and penalties are increased for persons convicted of hate crimes (s. 939.645, Wis. Stats.); and
Whereas, Wisconsin State law could be amended to specify that a race-based act of unnecessarily summoning a police officer is classified as a hate crime; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division is directed to seek introduction and passage of legislation making race-based acts of unnecessarily summoning a police officer a hate crime; and, be it
Further Resolved, That File Number 180898 is amended by inserting the following item in the document attached to the file and identified as “2019-2020 State Legislative Package Proposals”:
|
Racial, Social & Economic Equity |
Common Council |
Amend Wis. Stat. §939.645 to designate as a hate crime race-based acts of unnecessarily summoning a police officer. |
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall send copies of this resolution to the City’s delegation to the State Legislature.
Requestor
Drafter
Alex Highley
LRB176109-2
July 27, 2020