DAILY WISCONSIN

Police

Police, Unions

Freedom of Association

While it is wonderful to see the progression of liberty in Wisconsin as most of us are allowed to exercise our First Amendment right to belong to a private organization without the intervention of our government either way, there remains one bastion of forced unionization left untouched by both Act 10 and right to work. Police and firefighters are still forced to be in a union if they want to serve the public in either of those capacities.

When the new Legislature begins its session next year, it should take up the task of extending the same right to choose to police and firefighters as has been extended to the rest of Wisconsin’s workers….

Via Choice spreads throughout Wisconsin @ Boots & Sabers.

Legislature, Police, Private Property

Impounding yet more

The police already impound too much private property for questionable reasons. It puts the burden of proof on the accused to get their property back before a conviction. Everyone is still entitled to their day in court.

Also, in this case, it leaves open the potential for innocent people to have their cars impounded if they let someone without a license drive their car. Granted, people shouldn’t do that, but would you check your friend’s license before loaning them a car?

I would rather leave the punishment for after conviction. Perhaps confiscate a person’s car if that person is cited multiple times for driving without a license. If they don’t have a car, then jail them (or both).

Via Impounding for Driving Without a License @ Boots & Sabers.

Crime, Police, Police brutality, Police Misconduct

Mayor of Some of the People

(Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images)

(Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images)

Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel is facing mounting criticism from activists and allies of the black community who say he should be held accountable for delaying justice in the case of Laquan McDonald, a teenager who died 13 months ago after being shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer.

A court order forced Chicago city officials to release squad car video of the gruesome death, which they did on Tuesday, hours after the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office charged Officer Jason Van Dyke with first-degree murder in the teen’s killing. Viewers were outraged by how much the footage conflicted with the police department’s initial account of the shooting, which claimed that McDonald was acting strangely and lunged at police before shots were fired.

The video, which Emanuel’s administration and the state’s attorney’s office have long fought to keep from being publicly released, instead shows 17-year-old McDonald carrying a small knife and walking away from officers before Van Dyke opens fire from about 10 feet away. After McDonald falls, Van Dyke continues to shoot for at least 15 seconds….

Via Rahm Emanuel’s Learning What Happens When You Ignore Half Of The City @ Milwaukee Community Journal.

Milwaukee County, Police, Police brutality, Police Misconduct

Move Along, Nothing to See Here

Even for Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr., this was over the top.

Over the past year, Clarke has become a regular on Fox News with his generally unwavering support of police officers often while using inflammatory, Ann Coulter-style rhetoric.

But Clarke outdid himself this week with his unqualified assertion on “Fox & Friends” that police racism and brutality were relics of the past.

“First off, there is no police brutality in America. We ended that back in the ’60s,” Clarke told co-host Brian Kilmeade earlier this week. He continued, “There’s a new Harvard study out that shows that there is no racism in the hearts of police officers. They go about their daily duty, if you will, to keep communities safe.”

Via Sheriff David Clarke says police brutality and racism have ended @ JS NO Quarter Blog.

Gov. Walker, Police, Pres. Obama

Walker Blames Obama for Cop Murders

“In the last six years under President Obama, we’ve seen a rise in anti-police rhetoric. Instead of hope and change, we’ve seen racial tensions worsen and a tendency to use law enforcement as a scapegoat. This kind of attitude has created a culture in which we all too often see demonstrations and chants where people describe police as “pigs” and call for them to be “fried like bacon.” This inflammatory and disgusting rhetoric has real consequences for the safety of officers who put their lives on the line for us and hampers their ability to serve the communities that need their help.”

Via Hot Air exclusive: Scott Walker speaks out on cop murders and American leadership.

Milwaukee, Police

Chief Flynn blames culture for murders

Because it just couldn’t be bad policing –

“Maintaining one’s status and credibility and honor, if you will, within that peer community is literally a matter of life and death,” Milwaukee’s police chief, Edward A. Flynn, said. “And that’s coupled with a very harsh reality, which is the mental calculation of those who live in that strata that it is more dangerous to get caught without their gun than to get caught with their gun.”

Via Murder Rates Rising Sharply in Many U.S. Cities @ NYT.

Lawsuit, Madison, Police, Police brutality

Family of Tony Robinson Sues City of Madison, Officer Who Killed Him

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Madison, states that Robinson was killed “without lawful justification” and “through an act of intentional homicide” by Kenny on March 6 at an apartment building on Williamson Street on Madison’s Near East Side.

The lawsuit was filed by the Robinson’s estate, with his mother, Andrea Irwin, as representative for the estate. Lawyers for the estate are from the Chicago civil rights firm Loevy & Loevy.

Via Tony Robinson’s family sues city, police officer Matt Kenny @ State Journal.

Crime, Madison, Police

A Drug Arrest in Madison

“I sat eating breakfast outside several months ago and witnessed a young boy almost hit by the car of a drug dealer as it raced out of control down our street.  So it is not hard to fathom how I now need to  swallow my bile when reading the term “invading” when it comes to…

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