Dozens of people spoke at a public hearing on Thursday night and urged the U.S. Justice Department to take strong action against the Milwaukee Police Department.
The Justice Department held the meeting as part of a recently launched collaborative review of the Milwaukee police. The department has been at the center of several controversies over the years, including officer-involved shootings, that have sparked controversy and protest in the city.
Debra Jenkins’ son Larry was shot to death by a Milwaukee officer in 2002. She’s asked the federal agency for a more comprehensive patterns and practices investigation of the police department.
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“Just look at the patterns and practices,” Jenkins said. “We have gangs within the Police Department — the Jump Out Boys, the Punishers, the Night Train, the Midnight Riders — and you name it.”
Others called for Justice Department officials to look into a variety of issues, including traffic stops of African-Americans, and the clout of the city’s Fire and Police Commission.
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