Vos responds to Kenosha police shooting by forming task force

In the wake of the police shooting in Kenosha, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) announced he will be forming a task force on racial disparities. 

The Republicans who control both the Assembly and the Senate have said they would not come back into session until November at the earliest, after the election, and likely hold off until 2021 in response to questions on whether the bodies would convene to deal with racial and policing issues before the next session begins in January 2021. That was before the shooting on Sunday in Kenosha.

Gov. Tony Evers indicated in a release in response to the Kenosha shooting that now was the time for action. State Senate Republican leaders Scott Fitzgerald and Roger Roth had not responded to a query on potential Senate action by publication time.

The group, which Vos will appoint, will also focus on the following issues: educational opportunities, public safety and police standards and policies.

“We must find a path forward as a society that brings everyone together,” said Vos in making the announcement.

Vos’ hometown of Rochester is about 30 miles from downtown Kenosha.

Saying that he was “disturbed” by the video clip of the officer-involved shooting, Vos also criticized any rush to judgment before there is a “complete picture of what happened.”. 

“I was also deeply disturbed about what occurred in Kenosha: the demonstrators’ complete disregard to public safety, damage to personal property, and the attack on police. Moving forward, I encourage those who would like to express their frustration and anger to do so peacefully.”

Kenosha County has a curfew requiring the public to be off the streets starting at 8 p.m. on Monday through 7 a.m. on Tuesday for all areas in the county east of Interstate 94.