Wauwatosa Common Council Orders City To Address Officer Mensah’s Employment

Press release from the City of Wauwatosa:

July 15, 2020

The Wauwatosa Common Council met on July 14, 2020 in a closed session to discuss potential litigation strategies related to the Wauwatosa Police Department. From open session, they issued the following statement regarding Officer Joseph Mensah:

“The City of Wauwatosa recognizes the community trauma regarding police officer-involved deaths in the City. There are strongly held differences of opinion within the community as to what should be done. Doing nothing is not an option.

Each individual deserves due process under the law. There are legal limitations on what actions the City can take. It is imperative, however, for the interests of all parties that the City facilitate the transition of Officer Joseph Mensah from employment by the Wauwatosa Police Department.

The Common Council has ordered the City Administrator and the Police Chief to effectuate such a change as quickly as possible. We ask all sides to allow that process to occur.”

While these next steps occur, there is also a Wauwatosa’s Police and Fire Commission meeting on July 15 at 4:00 pm to receive a complaint against Officer Joseph Mensah. They will discuss moving forward with an independent, third-party investigator to advance the complaint and determine the scope of an investigation related to a complaint against an officer.

This press release was produced by the City of Wauwatosa. The views expressed here are the author’s own.