Charges expected soon in Milwaukee Police Brutal Beating of Black Man - was with White Women
Friday, February 25, 2005 at 07:00PM 
Criminal charges in the case of
Frank Jude Jr., allegedly beaten by a dozen off-duty Milwaukee police
officers, are expected in about two weeks, prosecutors and a city
official said Wednesday. Jude, a black man, was beaten at a party
hosted by a police officer in Bay View in October after he was accused
of stealing the officer's wallet containing his badge. Also Wednesday,
a notice of injury was filed on Jude's behalf, the first step toward a
possible lawsuit against the city, and a state lawmaker asked the
attorney general to take over the case. In a letter to Attorney General
Peg Lautenschlager, state Rep. Leon Young, a Milwaukee Democrat, wrote,
"Frankly, I have lost confidence in the Milwaukee District Attorney's
office and Milwaukee Police Department to investigate this incident
with an objective eye." Jude's attorney, Jonathan Safran, said a notice
of injury had to be filed with the city now to meet a 120-day deadline
and protect Jude's right to sue later. The claim, also filed on behalf
of Jude's wife, Maria, didn't include a dollar amount, and its filing
doesn't guarantee a lawsuit will follow, Safran said.During the incident, the notice claims, police officers
"were acting within the scope of their employment and under color of
law, involving the use of negligent and intentional inappropriate,
unwarranted, excessive, improper, and unconstitutional physical force
to detain, physically restrain and physically beat Frank L. Jude Jr."
The notice alleges that the officers' actions were the result of the
Police Department "failing to adequately train, supervise and control
its police officers," allowing an atmosphere that "promotes cavalier
attitudes in conduct," and encouraging "misplaced loyalties" among
officers who refuse to cooperate in investigations into misdeeds by
colleagues. The notice said Jude's medical bills exceeded $3,000 and
listed numerous injuries, including a concussion, loss of consciousness
and extensive facial injuries. Witnesses said Jude's hands were behind
his back the whole time. Jude was kicked repeatedly in the head and had
his pants taken off, witnesses said. Jude was arrested, handcuffed and
taken to hospital in a police van. Four officers have been suspended
with pay, but none has been charged so far. [more] and [more]
- Black Leaders Call for Boycott Over Beating Case [more]
- Let's say it as it was: Mob beating [more]
- Black Men with White Women: The incident had racial overtones. Both Jude and Harris are black; all the other partygoers reportedly were white. And something is said to have provoked Jude before the beating to question whether the gathering was racist. Those overtones are no doubt the reason many black residents here take the incident so personally. The two black men attended the party with white women once a hard-and-fast taboo, whose violation used to lead to beatings, mutilations and worse. The lingering effects of that taboo might explain why Jude was stripped of his pants in the course of the beating.
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