- Police Brutality Watch

The Milwaukee branch of the NAACP Monday called upon federal court officials and the Milwaukee County district attorney's office to diversify their leadership ranks following what the organization described as "biases" in two separate cases. The group took exception to what it said was the "lenient" charge against one officer involved in the Frank Jude Jr. beating case, as well as the "light" sentence given to one of the central figures in the kickback scheme involving former state Sen. Gary R. George. It is the perceived racial biases coming out of both offices in those two cases that are of utmost concern, said Jerry Ann Hamilton, president of the local NAACP branch, at a press conference. "We recommend that they diversify the leadership positions within their offices to create an atmosphere accommodating to diverse, open-minded reasoning," she said. The NAACP says the charge filed against Andrew R. Spengler, one of the police officers accused in the October beating of Jude in Bay View, was too lenient. Spengler was charged last month with being a party to the crime of substantial battery and faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison and $10,000 fine. Two other officers, Jon M. Bartlett and Daniel L. Masarik, face more severe charges in connection with the beating. If convicted, Bartlett could serve up to 22 1/2 years in prison., while Masarik faces a maximum of 19 1/2 years. [more]