Criminal Justice
Bill introduced to address “race out of place” police calls
Over two years ago, Rep. Shelia Stubbs found herself at the other end of what she calls “profiling by proxy,” also known as “race out of place,” which is a form of racial profiling used against people of color who are going about their normal, everyday activities. It was during her State Assembly campaign, and […]
Activist reflects on victims of milwaukee’s gun violence
Activist and community organizer Vaun Mayes speaks with the Wisconsin Examiner about the consequences of gun violence in Milwaukee. Mayes co-founded the organizations Program The Parks and Community Task Force (COMM FORCE). Although homicides were down in Milwaukee in 2019, over 100 people still lost their lives to random violence, including women and children. Mayes […]
‘Tougher on crime’ bills introduced by GOP
Standing before a banner sporting the “thin blue line,” a symbol of support for law enforcement, Rep. Joe Sanfelippo (R- New Berlin), introduced a new package of “tougher on crime bills,” alongside other colleagues. Leading the meeting within a substation of the West Allis Police Department, Sanfelippo applauded the suburb for having also recently introduced […]
Immigration activists weigh in on new federal operation
With a surge in federal law enforcement agents and funding expected for Milwaukee, immigration activists are concerned about whether the Department Of Justice (DOJ) Operation: Relentless Pursuit will also involve Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This new initiative, which the government says will target violent crime in seven cities nationwide, was announced a day after […]
Milwaukee picked for federal Operation Relentless Pursuit
Milwaukee is one of seven U.S. cities the federal government considers violent enough to warrant federal intervention. Through Operation: Relentless Pursuit, an initiative announced Dec. 18 by U.S. Attorney General William Barr, Milwaukee will experience a surge in federal agents, enforcement funding, access to more police equipment, and a renewed ability to hire more police […]
Voting in the dark on victims’ rights?
A group of defense attorneys joined the Wisconsin Justice Initiative in filing a lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court last week, seeking either to block a controversial victims’ rights constitutional amendment known as Marsy’s Law from appearing on the April 2020 ballot or to require it be rewritten to reflect “the sweeping changes” it could […]
Milwaukee man arrested by ICE reunited with his family
José (Alex) Alejandro de la Cruz-Espinoza, 38, a Milwaukee man who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in September, has been released on bond. De la Cruz-Espinoza spent over 70 days inside an immigration detention facility in Dodge County, after agents arrested him in front of his wife and young daughters. “I was […]
Evers orders leader of the Wisconsin National Guard to resign
The way sexual assault allegations, and those who reported them, were handled at the Wisconsin National Guard reached all the way to the top of the organization today when its leader, Adjutant General Donald Dunbar resigned at the request of Gov. Tony Evers. Evers signed Executive Order #62, calling for sweeping changes in how sexual […]
Outrage even before report’s release on sex assault in Wisconsin National Guard
A report looking into potentially egregious sexual assault and abuse in the Wisconsin National Guard is now in the hands of Gov. Tony Evers, and will be released to the public, likely early next week. The Wisconsin National Guard has been in the news throughout 2019 for problems with sexual assault and possible punishment of […]
Police investigating multiple possible school threats
The confrontation between police officers and a high school student in Waukesha was followed by a rash of other incidents and lockdowns at Wisconsin schools this week. An Oshkosh West High School student and officer were injured after the student stabbed the police officer. Separately, Sparta-area schools were closed as a precautionary measure due to […]
AG Kaul ups pressure on Assembly to prevent another sexual-assault kit backlog
Among the top issues during the campaign for attorney general of Wisconsin last year was the backlog of untested sexual-assault kits — physical evidence taken from victims after an assault to secure potential DNA criminal evidence. That issue is back in the news this week, as a serial sexual offender, Leroy R. Whittenberger became the […]
Waukesha South High School student shot after bringing gun to school
A seemingly normal morning at Waukesha South High School erupted in chaos Monday Dec 2, when a student was shot by a police officer after brandishing a gun in class. The traumatizing incident ended the school day before noon, with no injuries reported besides the student who triggered the incident. “My heart is with the […]