Activists and Samuel Sharpe’s sister criticize police at public meeting

“Our intention is to put them in positions where they’re not necessarily facing forward,” Milwaukee Police Inspector David Feldmeier said at the time. “We want our officers, MPD officers, to be the ones who are going to be in contact with the community.”

Norman said he was limited in what he could say because of the ongoing investigation into the shooting, but added that he didn’t know how “the word got out” that officers from outside Milwaukee wouldn’t be contacting the community, but that the intention was for them not to be in any “critical areas.”

He admitted that the officers should have been accompanied by a Milwaukee police officer.

“If we had officers in certain positions who had to have knowledge of the lay of the land, we should have an officer among those officers,” he said. “So there was no lack of responsibility or distinction in terms of having that.”

Norman said he would be able to talk more about the shooting once the investigation is complete. The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team, led by the Greenfield Police Department, is investigating the fatal shooting.

Activists from the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression spoke in Sharpe’s defense at the meeting. The group was sharply critical of Norman and noted its previous reservations about out-of-town police attending the Republican National Convention.

Cavalier Johnson’s morning report on day three of RNC includes fatal shooting

During Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s morning meeting to mark the third day of the RNC convention, details were presented about the fatal police shooting of a Milwaukee man.

They were critical of Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s comments after the shooting that police saved lives.

“I’m also here in complete disgust and disappointment with the Milwaukee Police Department,” Lo Cross said. “To say you saved a life when that wasn’t even the original goal of the Columbus Police Department in that area is just blatant and rude.”

During the meeting, Sharpe and Norman spoke at City Hall for about 10 minutes. Sharpe said the police chief reiterated his condolences for her brother’s death, and she told him of her frustration with trying to communicate with the department about the investigation’s progress.

Sharpe said she appreciated the chief’s willingness to express condolences and his willingness to say the Milwaukee police officer should be on the Ohio police force.

Sharpe said the shooting of her brother was limited in its coverage, with many focusing only on the moment of his death rather than what led up to it in the days leading up to it. During public comment, Sharpe said her brother had called them the day before to tell them about a confrontation he had with the other man in the incident.

“My brother had a whole life. He had a whole story,” Sharpe said outside the council chamber.