The full Common Council yesterday (Tuesday, July 7th) approved legislation urging the Fire and Police Commission to adopt a rule requiring Milwaukee police officers to file a report every time they draw a gun, mace, or stun gun on duty.
Council file #200267 – authored by Alderman Khalif J. Rainey – urges that the Fire and Police Commission adopt a rule requiring police officers to file a report every time they draw a gun, mace, or stun gun (taser) while on duty, even if the item is not used. The report should include demographic information, including race of the individual whom the weapon was drawn against.
Co-sponsors of the legislation are Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, and Aldewoman Nikiya Dodd.
“By creating a rule that would require police officers to file a report every time they draw a gun, mace, or stun gun while on duty, the Milwaukee Police Department will be able to better provide information to the public,” said Alderman Rainey, chair of the Community and Economic Development Committee. “Requiring these additional incident reports would hold officers accountable and allow them to reflect on the incident that occurred.”
“This resolution is especially important to the Black community and other people of color who are at a higher risk of experiencing excessive force by a police officer,” said Alderman Rainey. “The reports would be another tool for the Fire and Police Commission when conducting investigations of officer misconduct, and I strongly encourage the FPC to take up this issue.”