US Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Probe Opened in Brutal Milwaukee Police Beating Case - Review May Take Months

 
The U.S. Justice Department will join a federal investigation into the beating of a black man after a jury acquitted three white former police officers of most state charges, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Friday. U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, already has said his office is looking into possible federal charges in the case. Gonzales said the Justice Department's civil rights division and Biskupic's office will jointly decide whether to file charges. In week since the former officers' acquittals stunned Milwaukee, black and white residents, including the mayor, have expressed their outrage by attending community meetings and downtown marches. Activists called for federal authorities to intervene. Alderman Joe Davis Sr. said earlier this week that he sent a letter to Gonzales asking for federal indictments in the October 2004 beating of Frank Jude Jr. Davis said Jude was denied his civil rights. An all-white county jury returned not guilty verdicts last Friday on most charges against fired officers Jon Bartlett, 34, Daniel Masarik, 26, and Andrew Spengler, 26. On one charge against Bartlett, the jury reached no verdict and prosecutors say they will retry him. Defense lawyers had argued key witnesses were unreliable because they did not remember correctly, lied or were influenced by pretrial gossip and publicity. Biskupic has said the federal review of the case could take months and possible charges could include obstruction or civil rights violations. [MORE]

• Independent investigation of Milwaukee Police Department urged "We must be active now. This is no time for apathy. I'm sick and tired of an apathetic church and an apathetic Milwaukee," said the Rev. Joseph Jackson, former president of the Milwaukee Innercity Congregations Allied for Hope. "We need to push for justice and accountability." The ministers urged legislators to craft a law that would require the firing of any officer who witnesses another officer commit a crime and does not report it. They also called for an independent investigator to look at claims of police misconduct. [MORE]
• Racist Milwaukee Cop Involved in Brutal Beating of Unarmed Black Man Wants Job Back One of three former police officers acquitted of beating a man will now look at getting his job back, his attorney said. Andrew Spengler, 26, was cleared of the single charge he faced, party to the crime of substantial battery, in the beating of Frank Jude Jr. late Friday. His attorney Michael Hart said he Spengler was fired on allegations of committing substantial battery, and since he was acquitted they should try to get his job back. Spengler, who hosted the party near where Jude was beaten, was also fired on accusations of failing to follow orders. Spengler was among nine officers fired last May by Chief Nan Hegerty. Following the acquittal of Spengler and the two other officers, Jon Bartlett and Daniel Masarik, Hegerty and Mayor Tom Barrett said none of the men would ever work for the police department. In accordance with a state law that applies only to Milwaukee police, Spengler, Masarik and Bartlett have all received full pay and benefits - worth about $64,000 - since they were fired, according to city records. [MORE]