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Milwaukee Police Make Multiple Arrests in Second Night of Unrest Milwaukee Police Make Multiple Arrests in Second Night of Unrest
(35 minutes later)
MILWAUKEE — The authorities here struggled into Monday to maintain order in part of Wisconsin’s largest city, which was gripped by unrest after a police officer killed an armed man on Saturday.MILWAUKEE — The authorities here struggled into Monday to maintain order in part of Wisconsin’s largest city, which was gripped by unrest after a police officer killed an armed man on Saturday.
The city police said Monday morning that 14 people had been arrested and that four officers had been injured overnight. Milwaukee’s ShotSpotter system, which tries to detect gunfire, was activated 30 times. The authorities also used an armored vehicle to retrieve a shooting victim. The city police, which beginning Monday night is expected to aggressively enforce a curfew for teenagers, said that 14 people had been arrested and that four officers had been injured overnight. Milwaukee’s ShotSpotter system, which tries to detect gunfire, was activated 30 times. The authorities also used an armored vehicle to retrieve a shooting victim.
Although the police reported a night of unrest — the Police Department’s Twitter account also said that officers had been targeted with projectiles that included rocks and bottles — Milwaukee officials did not summon the National Guard, which Gov. Scott Walker activated on Sunday “to aid local law enforcement upon request.”Although the police reported a night of unrest — the Police Department’s Twitter account also said that officers had been targeted with projectiles that included rocks and bottles — Milwaukee officials did not summon the National Guard, which Gov. Scott Walker activated on Sunday “to aid local law enforcement upon request.”
The second night of disorder heightened concern that Milwaukee, with a glittering lakefront that belies its stark racial and economic divides, might be in the opening days of sustained protests about the practices of the police. It was not immediately clear how local officials would respond to the second night of unruliness, but Mayor Tom Barrett of Milwaukee had suggested on Sunday, the day after angry crowds confronted the police and set fires, that additional violence could provoke a curfew. The second night of disorder heightened concern that Milwaukee, with a glittering lakefront that belies its stark racial and economic divides, might be in the opening days of sustained protests about the practices of the police.
A spokesman for the Milwaukee police, Sgt. Timothy Gauerke, said Monday that officials were continuing to investigate the shooting of an 18-year-old man late Sunday along North Sherman Boulevard. Sergeant Gauerke said the man “suffered a serious injury” and was taken to a hospital in an armored Police Department vehicle. The spokesman said that the authorities continued to seek suspects in the shooting, which happened at about 11 p.m.A spokesman for the Milwaukee police, Sgt. Timothy Gauerke, said Monday that officials were continuing to investigate the shooting of an 18-year-old man late Sunday along North Sherman Boulevard. Sergeant Gauerke said the man “suffered a serious injury” and was taken to a hospital in an armored Police Department vehicle. The spokesman said that the authorities continued to seek suspects in the shooting, which happened at about 11 p.m.
After their early efforts to keep peace faltered, Milwaukee’s leaders face a particular challenge in their push to ease tensions. Curfews have led to mixed results in other places where by protests about police practices have occurred. Also, some people in Milwaukee are worried that any action by the National Guard could intensify emotions. After early efforts to keep peace faltered, and two days after the unrest began with angry crowds setting fires and facing off with the police, Mayor Tom Barrett said Monday that Milwaukee would enforce its summertime curfew for residents under the age of 17. The curfew ordinarily takes effect at 10 p.m. and lasts until 5 a.m.
Mr. Barrett did not impose a curfew for all people in Milwaukee, where some people said that they were worried that any action by the National Guard could intensify emotions.
“These are new age kids,” said Robert Hines, 48, said as he stood near the blackened shell of an auto parts store that burned over the weekend. “They don’t even listen to their parents.”“These are new age kids,” said Robert Hines, 48, said as he stood near the blackened shell of an auto parts store that burned over the weekend. “They don’t even listen to their parents.”
Although the initial shooting that touched off the violence is the focus of a state inquiry, as required by law, Milwaukee officials have signaled that they believe the 24-year-old officer, was justified when he opened fire and killed Sylville K. Smith, 23. Both are African-Americans.Although the initial shooting that touched off the violence is the focus of a state inquiry, as required by law, Milwaukee officials have signaled that they believe the 24-year-old officer, was justified when he opened fire and killed Sylville K. Smith, 23. Both are African-Americans.
Mr. Barrett said that Mr. Smith had been armed with a handgun when he was shot. The authorities in Milwaukee authorities said the episode unfolded after Mr. Smith and another person fled a traffic stop on Saturday afternoon.Mr. Barrett said that Mr. Smith had been armed with a handgun when he was shot. The authorities in Milwaukee authorities said the episode unfolded after Mr. Smith and another person fled a traffic stop on Saturday afternoon.
When Mr. Smith did not comply with an order to drop his semiautomatic handgun, Mr. Barrett said, the officer opened fire, striking Mr. Smith in the chest and an arm.When Mr. Smith did not comply with an order to drop his semiautomatic handgun, Mr. Barrett said, the officer opened fire, striking Mr. Smith in the chest and an arm.
“This event probably took 20 to 25 seconds,” Police Chief Edward A. Flynn said. “I mean, there was virtually no time between the officer unhooking his seatbelt, turning on his body camera, getting out of the car and immediately there was a foot chase.”“This event probably took 20 to 25 seconds,” Police Chief Edward A. Flynn said. “I mean, there was virtually no time between the officer unhooking his seatbelt, turning on his body camera, getting out of the car and immediately there was a foot chase.”
The police did not release video of the episode, but Chief Flynn said that the officer’s recorded actions appeared “credible and legally protected.” The police did not release video of the episode, but Chief Flynn said that the officer’s recorded actions appeared “credible and legally protected.” Mr. Barrett, speaking to reporters on Monday, said he wanted the video to be made public because he expected it would “provide a lot of context.”
But in some of Milwaukee’s predominantly black neighborhoods, the killing was yet another outgrowth of exceedingly aggressive and misguided police tactics in this city of about 600,000. The shooting occurred less than two weeks after a coalition that included the N.A.A.C.P. and the American Civil Liberties Union urged Milwaukee to create a civilian oversight panel in a city with some of the country’s highest rates of incarceration or unemployment for black men.But in some of Milwaukee’s predominantly black neighborhoods, the killing was yet another outgrowth of exceedingly aggressive and misguided police tactics in this city of about 600,000. The shooting occurred less than two weeks after a coalition that included the N.A.A.C.P. and the American Civil Liberties Union urged Milwaukee to create a civilian oversight panel in a city with some of the country’s highest rates of incarceration or unemployment for black men.
The Milwaukee police have been under closer scrutiny for months. In December, after prosecutors did not bring charges against a former Milwaukee officer in the 2014 killing of an unarmed black man, the Justice Department announced that the city would participate in its “collaborative reform process,” which will yield nonbinding recommendations that federal officials hope will improve “community-oriented policing practices, transparency, professionalism, accountability and public trust.”The Milwaukee police have been under closer scrutiny for months. In December, after prosecutors did not bring charges against a former Milwaukee officer in the 2014 killing of an unarmed black man, the Justice Department announced that the city would participate in its “collaborative reform process,” which will yield nonbinding recommendations that federal officials hope will improve “community-oriented policing practices, transparency, professionalism, accountability and public trust.”
The entire process, which is also playing out in places like North Charleston, S.C., and St. Louis County, Mo., takes years and is distinct from a civil rights inquiry that could monitor changes to eliminate unconstitutional patterns or practices.The entire process, which is also playing out in places like North Charleston, S.C., and St. Louis County, Mo., takes years and is distinct from a civil rights inquiry that could monitor changes to eliminate unconstitutional patterns or practices.
There is skepticism that the review will lead to changes, and before the outbreak of violence on Sunday night, the protests here carried an edge, like when a group of tuxedo-clad black men led hundreds of people in an angry march through Sherman Park. Marchers, some of whom were white, chanted over and over, “Indict! Convict! Send these killer cops to jail!”There is skepticism that the review will lead to changes, and before the outbreak of violence on Sunday night, the protests here carried an edge, like when a group of tuxedo-clad black men led hundreds of people in an angry march through Sherman Park. Marchers, some of whom were white, chanted over and over, “Indict! Convict! Send these killer cops to jail!”
The police, who were observing from across the street, began donning riot gear. One young female protester pointed at them and said, “They’re getting ready to kill.”The police, who were observing from across the street, began donning riot gear. One young female protester pointed at them and said, “They’re getting ready to kill.”
A woman replied, “Yeah, they are. They are.”A woman replied, “Yeah, they are. They are.”
Others who gathered near the scene of the unrest said they hoped for greater unity.Others who gathered near the scene of the unrest said they hoped for greater unity.
“We’re praying that these young kids, that their anger dissolves,” said Marie Polk, who was waiting for a bus to head home. “I just prayed that everyone goes home and be peaceful. We’re not about violence.”“We’re praying that these young kids, that their anger dissolves,” said Marie Polk, who was waiting for a bus to head home. “I just prayed that everyone goes home and be peaceful. We’re not about violence.”
She added, “They want answers, that’s all, just wanting answers.”She added, “They want answers, that’s all, just wanting answers.”