Flynn’s reaction to ACLU stop-and-frisk lawsuit prompts outcry from civil rights, faith groups
The filing of a lawsuit accusing the Milwaukee Police Department of illegal stop-and-frisks targeting African-Americans and Latinos — and the subsequent reaction from Chief Edward Flynn — has prompted an outcry from a coalition of nearly two dozen local faith and civil rights groups.
"It highlights the different perceptions as to where community-police relations are right now, despite the best efforts of some very good people," said Darryl Morin of the League of United Latin American Citizens and a member of the Community Coalition for Quality Policing.
The suit, filed by the ACLU of Wisconsin, claims police routinely pull people over and stop them on the street without cause and accuses officers of conducting stop-and-frisks “motivated by race and ethnicity." Flynn, who is named in the lawsuit with the Fire and Police Commission and city, denied the allegations in a written statement and again during a media briefing.
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Flynn said disparities in stops reflect existing disparities in crime victimization. The stops often don't result in tickets or arrests, and citizen complaints dropped even as the number of stops increased. Mayor Tom Barrett said he had not yet seen the lawsuit, adding that he could not comment on pending litigation.
Flynn's response was "equally concerning" as the allegations made in the lawsuit, Morin said in an interview Friday.
"The response, while understood that the chief needed to stand up for his troops, it wasn't one that was going to reduce the level of tension between the community and the department," Morin said.
LULAC, NAACP Milwaukee branch and the ACLU of Wisconsin are among the members of the Community Coalition for Quality Policing. The coalition, however, did not have any involvement or advance notice of Wednesday's lawsuit, according to Morin.
On Friday, the coalition called for the immediate release of a long-awaited U.S. Department of Justice report on the Milwaukee Police Department, as well as all drafts of the report. Federal authorities have not said when it will be released.
"We understand there have been a number of revisions to it and changes without any real input from the community," said Jonathan Safran, an attorney and coalition member who has represented victims of police misconduct.
The coalition also requested leaders of the department and the police union meet with the coalition to create a timeline and begin implementing "problem-oriented policing department-wide."
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Asked about the coalition's remarks, Flynn released a statement saying the department is engaged in the collaborative reform process with the Justice Department.
"When the report is published, I anticipate implementing recommendations regarding enhanced community outreach and engagement and will continue the Milwaukee Police Department’s long-standing problem-oriented policing strategies, for which it has been nationally recognized," he said.
In past occasions, Flynn has said community-based, problem-oriented policing is "embedded" in the department and has pointed to numerous local and national awards and grants as proof. A recent department presentation to the Fire and Police Commission included a list of awards and 17 department programs related to those efforts.
Morin and others say the department deserves credit for their existing outreach efforts in certain areas but it is not a department-wide practice.
"When you truly do this, you bring all stakeholders to the table at every step along the way," Morin said.
Mary Spicuzza of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.
