Wauwatosa Officer Goes Back to Work After Jay Anderson Shooting Incident

WAUWATOSA -- The Wauwatosa Police Officer who shot and killed Jay Anderson, Jr. in June, was officially reinstated to the department on Dec. 12 after the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office did not file charges against the officer.

According to the Wauwatosa NOW report, an investigative synopsis released by the Wauwatosa Police Department indicated there was a gun in the front passenger seat of Anderson's vehicle, and that Anderson was "lunging" for the weapon at a critical moment. The document indicated that Anderson's actions resulted in putting the officer, Joseph Mensah, in a position where he feared for his safety and prompting him to shoot.

Anderson's family is voicing concern over Mensah's return to work. “After the news conference by (Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber), the family and supporters expressed concerns with the fact that Officer Mensah should be allowed back on the street as a patrol officer, to interact with citizens, after being involved in two separate police shooting deaths over an 11-month period of time,” Johnathan Safran, the attorney for Anderson's family said in a statement as reported by Wauwatosa NOW.

Anderson Shot and Killed

Anderson was fatally shot at Madison Park in Wauwatosa overnight on June 23. According to a WTMJ report later that morning, Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber said the officer responded to a suspicious vehicle parked outside Madison Park at about 3 a.m.

Reports indicate the officer encountered Anderson in possession of a gun inside the vehicle. At some point, the Wauwatosa Police chief said the officer feared for his safety and fired his gun. Authorities had set up a perimeter around Madison Park, and the vehicle could be seen in the parking lot with a shattered rear window. There were about a dozen evidence marks surrounding that vehicle.

The Protests
Loved ones marched outside the Wauwatosa police department, outside of Mayfair Mall and also in Red Arrow Park Milwaukee in early July, calling for an investigation into Anderson's death.

At times, exchanges between protesters and law enforcement became heated. The common theme of those who participated was "Justice for Jay."

Dozens rally in Milwaukee following the officer-involved shooting of Jay Anderson in Wauwatosa @WISN12News at 5 pic.twitter.com/KV1KuZMyAZ — Terry Sater (@noozdude1) July" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/noozdude1/... 11, 2016
"We're putting everybody on notice. Politicians, the DA, the Wauwatosa Police Department that we're not going to tolerate any more innocent killing of our children," explained "King Rick" of the Black Panthers, according to a WTMJ report outside of Mayfair Mall in early July.
"That's what I need. When your son's been murdered that's what you need, support," said Jay Anderson Sr., the victim's father, according to the WTMJ report.

"We need answers:" Loved ones of Jay Anderson march near Wauwatosa PD after officer-involved shooting https://t.co/MwsIzlnJF4 via @fox6now — HTOWN BEAUTY (@candi_kizzez) July" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/candi_kizz... 13, 2016

The InvestigationBecause the case involved an officer-involved shooting, the investigation was handled by the Milwaukee Police Department and is being reviewed by the district attorney's office. The officer involved was put on administrative leave as a matter of departmental policy.

Over the course of the approximately month-long investigation, District Attorney John Chisholm and Deputy Chief District Attorney Kent Lovern met with members of the Anderson family and their legal representatives and shared with them all the evidence collected by the Milwaukee Police Department.

Among the evidence shared were recordings of officer dispatches, video of the incident and all reports by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner and Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory.