Memorial for Sylville Smith removed by city officials

The memorial for Sylville Smith, the 23-year-old Milwaukee man shot and killed by a police officer last month, was removed Wednesday by city officials.

Smith’s Aug. 13 death sparked two nights of violent unrest in the Sherman Park neighborhood. And crowds continued to gather around a makeshift memorial for Smith near the corner of N. 44th St. and W. Auer Ave. in the following weeks, drawing complaints from neighbors.

"Neighbors/residents of Sherman Park were continuing to see quality of life issues and wanted the gatherings to end," Sgt. Timothy Gauerke, a Milwaukee Police Department spokesman, said in an email. "MPD has seen incidents of loud music, public drinking, etc., in the recent weeks leading up to the memorial being removed."  

Gauerke said the memorial was cleaned up by the city Department of Public Works following a request from Ald. Khalif Rainey.

COMPLETE COVERAGE: Milwaukee Sherman Park turmoil

In a statement late Wednesday, Rainey said the time had come to end protests at the site of the memorial. He said parties, drug use and loitering had gone on some nights until 2 a.m., disturbing neighbors. He said residents want their neighborhood to return to normal.

Camille Mays, the creator of the Peace Garden Project MKE and a board member of the Sherman Park Community Association, did not respond to a request for comment.

City officials have said police body camera footage shows Smith was armed and turning toward an officer when he was shot. The officer's body camera footage has not been released publicly, and state Attorney General Brad Schimel has said it won't be until the Milwaukee County district attorney makes a charging decision.