MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) The U.S. Department of Justice is close to finishing a report into the policies and practices of the Milwaukee Police Department. The report was due to be released last month, but a spokeswoman for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, would not say why it’s been delayed.
The review had been requested over a year ago by Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn. The request was made shortly after the shooting of Dontre Hamilton by a city police officer. No criminal charges were filed, but there was internal discipline handed out within the police department for not following proper procedures.
The Obama Administration had pressured many police departments to sign agreements with the U.S. Department of Justice for police oversight and reform. Other cities like Milwaukee have requested federal reviews and have entered into collaborative programs with the feds. This would be one of the first police department reviews completed since the election of Donald Trump. It’s unclear if the change in administration led to the delay.
Meanwhile, a woman will be receiving $2.5-million from the city of Milwaukee to settle a lawsuit from a 2010 rape. She was assaulted by now-former Officer Ladmarald Cates when he was responding to her 911 call that summer on the city’s north side.
The Milwaukee Common Council voted 14-one yesterday to approve the settlement.
The MetroSource news wire contributed to this report.
