Several law enforcement officials called on Wisconsin’s two top officials to stop making what they described as “premature” and “inflammatory” statements.
“Previous remarks and statements made by each of you are premature, judgmental, inflammatory and only add to the anger and divisiveness of an already dangerous situation. A continued pattern of statements and press releases based on opinion and unsubstantiated claims puts people’s lives at risk,” the officials said.
“These are not peaceful protests. There have already been two deaths and many injuries. Continued remarks like those already made by each of you have also put the lives of Law Enforcement Officers, National Guardsman and the public at risk.”
The letter was signed by Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll, president of the Wisconsin Badger State Sheriff’s Association; Jefferson Police Chief Kenneth Pileggi, president of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association; Sauk County Chief Deputy Jeff Spencer, who heads the Wisconsin Sheriff’s and Deputy Sheriff’s Association; and Fond du Lac Chief William Lamb, the president of the Wisconsin Police Executive Group.
The officials didn’t say which remarks exactly they took issue with.
Hours after Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old, was shot by police in Kenosha on Sunday, Evers, a Democrat, issued a statement saying the man “was shot in the back multiple times, in broad daylight.”
“While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country,” he added.
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes said in a virtual briefing on Tuesday that the shooting “was not an accident.”
“This wasn’t bad police work. This felt like some sort of vendetta being taken out on a member of our community,” he added.
Wisconsin Department of Justice investigators are probing the shooting to see if the officers involved committed any crimes.
Police officers went to the home of a woman who called 911 to report that a man, Blake, was there but not supposed to be on the premises. Blake resisted arrest, even after being tased twice, and walked to the driver’s side door of his vehicle before leaning inside.
That’s when an officer fired at him seven times from behind.
All three officers involved have been named and placed on administrative leave.
Blake, who had a warrant out for sexual assault, is being treated at a hospital in Milwaukee.
Asked Thursday to respond to the law enforcement officials, Evers said he spoke to several of them following the letter.
“I see nothing wrong with stating facts. And the facts were pretty clear in this in this situation. We have an African American man who was shot seven or eight times in the back as he was attempting to get into his car, and that’s what I said,” Evers said.
“I also said that there was an ongoing investigation by the Department of Justice and the Attorney General, that have other facts I’m sure to come out. And so having, I understand what they’re talking about, if we want to respect law enforcement, then we want them to do a good job. But I don’t think reciting the facts as we know it is a wrong approach and the same facts, frankly, we’ve seen all across the country. And so we agree to disagree on this issue ,where we agree on other issues, but I don’t think making a fact-based statement is improper.”
