The inner core: City within a city; Part 3 of 4

W H A the University of Wisconsin presents the third of four programs drawn from a special week of broadcasting focusing on the problems of Milwaukee's inner core city within a city. The materials for these programs came from the comments and writings of Milwaukee NS. However the issues they raise have significance and meaning for us all. At this time we had hoped to present a program on police community relations which would have included both the comments of inner city residents and those of the police administration and the men on the beat. We have attempted through letters phone calls and personal visits to enlist the cooperation of the Milwaukee Police Department in this project. However both the chief of police and the entire Milwaukee police and fire commission have declined to participate in either an interview or in the production of a documentary. They have also declined participation in the evening's studio discussions being broadcast this week. Therefore we were unable to achieve the balance we had hoped to provide

between the varied attitudes of inner city residents and those of the police. And so during the next hour you'll hear him on ties of citizen opinion on the quality of their police department. Excerpts from the Milwaukee community relations Social Development Commission hearings on police brutality and an interview with Mr. Richard artisan the former community relations specialist for the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission. The topic of all their comments the relationship between the people and the police the issue of police community relations recurred during dozens of interviews with inner city residents. Their reactions to the police were not always the same but they invariably were mentioned here is a sample of varied opinions about the police by negro residents of Milwaukee's inner core. We don't Christopher the least but the blacks in the police department

I don't know what happened I know we used to have a few like policemen around in this day already been moved somewhere because yelling I see two three here and there. But we have blacks is scared to stick their head out and go because you might get a blow out that police. Yeah. Well you know that the whites is allowed to come into this area and shoot the blanks the same of the police. Get ready to shoot a blank Danley shoot them down. So we can't trust our actions some of them down they can tell right from wrong. Actually I have to say I trust him because I've been on very friendly terms with the police myself I mean I depend on the police with. The policeman on the beat here they're all friendly and they're all good solid citizens as

far as I'm sorry. Actually I don't think it's a relationship between the community and the police are that bad. Basically I think most of the people in the community want more and better police protection. There are those that like to say rabble rousers they do like to stir up trouble that point their finger to the police department and they would do this regardless of who was running the police department or. Whatnot. This thing I think the whole thing smacks of a lack of real real punishment. I think your trouble more or less is in the courts not on the street. These teenagers nowadays some of them got records by the time that they're 18 that would make John Dillinger record look sick and these can

rattle when they have never been locked away or really disciplined. And consequently I mean there they are picked up and turned loose but before really they're almost back out of the out of the safety they're going down they're almost back on the street as first as the officers are going to one policeman that I've that I've ever known in my life that I too well for being a father son combination but I had my respect and I really think the world over now I would treat it as part of the family and that's been that's been I don't never known as first name I've never known his last name. He was being when I when I lived on 20 Savan he took my sling shot for me when I was 12 years old and told the mother about it. But he treated me as if I was a human being. Been there are some policemen you know who treats you as a I mean these are new globalization is a way of policemen that doesn't really make any difference to you as a god damn a man you're the animal. I'm the man with the rod and the man with the power.

You do lack our thing you don't do bad you go to jail. No A is not you know small birds you see the do or you don't you know. So I mean only two policeman on the force not that I really admire. As for respect you got to give it you don't really have to give it to. Rick to force you to respect something about it and I you can respect is the power that they have. Police believe he did jumps on a lot of things. Iran is not going to like India as some polices and nice but the majority I'm your fan think rail comes down tape. And I tell you what I would give when really since they are from around me just pretty nice ones around and I were alone. They don't want but easy going around think they own the world because Ted bad you don't know they're supposed to be a public servant with a taxpayer listen posta listen you know half decent anyway. I mean I don't have to believe that they made it here in our letter but the point about it when we got to have somebody list we get somebody we're going to

check in a day you know see where those 10 years. Are more police brutality than the police willing to admit that they're less than the police department is accused and I think this is part of the course but I think the reason for the lack of understanding of it may be several number one that years no police communications no communication between the police and the community very little. And this in itself needs to lead to this lack of understanding in this whole area of police brutality. We have discovered in terms of the kinds of reporting that has been done to us that there's more of this curious impoliteness and contemptuousness and brutality.

However I do take the position that that if such a thing as verbal brutality and no human being ought to be subjected to it such as name calling and this kind of thing the voices you heard were those of a minister a businessman a housewife to students and an official of the Milwaukee Urban League interspersed with their opinions about the police corps residents told us numerous stories of alleged police misconduct or brutality. The stories were as varied as the people we spoke with. A Community Action worker explained how he had formed his ideas about the police. What do you know I just didn't think things are quite as bad because I never I never been confronted with any problems myself until about three or four years ago. When a friend of my. Tell me about her. Her. Uncle. What happened was I've been a hit and run accident and the guy who had

been involved in an accident parked his car in front of this girl's uncle's home so the cops. Just took it for granted I guess it was his car and they broke when it went in the house and knocked on the door first lady opened the door was wife and they forced their way and the guy was in bed and they started to work him over. And they the wife tried to stop him and they pushed her pushed him through a window and. She had to have a number of stitches put in and they took him downtown. I didn't know this at the time but this guy was. Very close to one of the county supervisors. And of course after they found this out and found out we was a car there wasn't his car. The DA told him you know that you're you're you're a model so the sun and so on and so forth. Why don't we you know I just forget that this happened and the funny part about it was he did a member of the community relations social

development commission described another incident I was going to claim as I was getting on the bus. Yesterday I just got out the best on Wisconsin Avenue street he had a school players but he didn't have the holder he said it lasted. Two police tapped him on the bus and wouldn't let him on and it was a kind of a little commotion they sort of handled him roughly and a negro woman came up and said well I'll pay his fare because the boy had to get home in the bus travel tonight which was just as bad said I don't want him on my bus. And still they had taken him by his arms and wrapped him up and taken him outside of the bus and we saw what happened after that. So that ride alone I mean he was just like every day occurrence a teacher gave his opinion and offered an example. The point is this too hasty in that decision. Which the situation not too long ago

that where that I had to call the call a policeman to come straight down a playground and he just rocked up and this rocked and hit the guy and said just as well you know if you don't do it that's not what I called you for on you that you arrest him and take him down to take him home to his parents. Teenager 16 year old that I had to do I had to say that right before the boy that was really actually miss me you miss me he wanted a point but he just walked up he said were easy but he knew this boy he had a record with alone. He had a record and he just woke up and this comes out listing his walks at me and says as it is right. That's just him and he looks at me with clippings like that was not a blowout. What grabs him looked around he looked at me he walked up. I mean from a hand. You know. High school student related his small experiences with the police I had police and drive a two week walk down the street.

When I joined Will they pull over. I went on the U.S Open door and she went into like I wasn't needed to know like you rob your son when you run around one one home like that with thinking he had got the impression of me yet I was running across the street on my way home. He jumped out and pulled me up to give the guy a muffled to feel like that right then I got a flat and I would tell him that I would tell him my name I was gone home period they had robbed me I think and I've known that you know I don't we should think we want to get out have a police record and I'll make you know different because of me and all those other people even to think you I think I live in the court. I think would probably do something normal here to get caught. I mean they are bad in everything and sometimes you have to get back there to do it this way. I was doing some I made you do something not just t them with someone to maybe grab me to do around I don't do this. A minister told of two incidents that had soured his attitude toward the police. He had no understand. Two kids in a cotton.

Scrape right in front of our home. This one we really have no on the street. And then we called the police. And they never got it. So my wife had to go out and stuff. And then and then Incidentally some kids had stolen from cars to cats. And they were still in the care that. When trying our home we got a police telling me. Like I was. And. When the guy we know the name but we knew that they were kids we knew that he had stolen cars. And the kids were in the cars when the police came. This time they came right away. Kids were in the car when police came with that and said I'm going to look around that

I had given the description. It came shining light on my house. I think it was Dylan Garland putting the where they thought police I mean they just took off the one they ran on down behind there somewhere. And then he came up on the pole watching rang the bell and asked us Where were the kids. Well because. I think this angered me somewhat. So I told him to get off my porch. I got the kids gone. And then I'd get. So I was. More or less just began to create a feeling between my family and. And the way the police operate in the in a court. They don't seem to. Care too much about. It. Lauer Well I suppose I don't know what they have reasoned. But too many

things I think. Go on notice on purpose. I believe. I made a reason and this is one of the and I say again that I was. Sitting just ponders and conditions and now. Due to the breakdown of. Police policing. Of all the stories we heard one in particular seemed to communicate best what corps residents referred to when they spoke of mismanagement of the situation by the police. An inner city teacher read a statement to us about the incident. It was to lead in about 7:30 p.m. and I was standing on the boy's asphalt playground playing baseball with a group of children. I stopped playing and started to cross the playground to take to take take out my account. On my way back there was a squad car coming on the playground at a dangerous speed.

Before I could reach the car and identify myself an officer had jumped out of the car and grabbed it but what grabbed the child by his shoulder and started pulling the child to his car. After the officer reached he proceeded to frisk the child very roughly and quickly. The officer then threw the child into the his car back half way off the playground and then turned around and drove off the playground at a very unsafe sleep. This crowd was going so fast. At least 12 suring scattered in order to keep from being great. I discussed the incident with Mr. Lott guide who suggested I report it to the district station. I talked to the sergeant on duty. Who said he would send someone to investigate about 8:15 p.m. another squad drill into the private playground. An officer asked me what happened. I then proceeded to give them the previous account which not only they told

me was untrue but continually interrupted. Both sides were very rude and disrespectful. They told me not only would I get no additional assistance from. That district but also took my name address and age as to report what I see of both incidents were in very poor taste and totally uncalled for. Not only was I doing in time playground disrupted twice. And as a result the poor a poor image of law and order was created and displayed to what you're doing. After he had read the statement about the incident the teacher elaborated on the story and gave his reactions and see they had no lights on the nose. Sorry no nothing to see and when the kids weighing up against a shanty there and you know yelling Mistah God was like under Saddam is like that when I ran out to see what was happening and at this time we had gotten to the way it was. I mean just peel off the

playground that is her it is her disc it just getting in the car and by time I get I will make it out as I make it my something to report there. But you know like mounting and I was sitting down and by time I got up and got it over they had was peeling out which is at least doing at least 40 miles an hour right there on the playground. Someone alone 27 street had pool felt a lot. I'm busy. And this defied trucks in the squads that have been around and I thought it was all over with. Which was. The end of this war that he picked up was it was name was George Blanket who had a police record. The new whimsy and they saw him chop off a bike and leave it you know just just jumped off of it laid a smash right into the school building now Avenue School buildings he and he come to the boy. He jumped off the bike. He had he admired this bike from another boy

and this boy I was indeed just kids present with each other you know. Was going to it was going to going to look for him with his back and only way back he saw that one US jumped off and it let it run on into the building and he came down to. Came on the playground and was playing wrong. When this happened he had been there at least the first 15 minutes called this kid was playing a lot of heat. He had been at least 15 minutes and he just cried right down on the right down on the playground right into the kids and everything and grabbed him and this gives him a couple ruffled up there and threw him in this threw him in a car. And what now I just parked aside and kept and he smashed a bike he smashed a bike you know what I said I would give him and what he did. I says you will kill three or four kids on the kind of a smashed bike I mean but it just bugs me we they want to I want to evaluate a bike. Over and above the laser kids you know and they

and I had seen the ad come on the playground at you know pretty rough several times and just threw rocks didn't contact anybody or the next time I spotted him and I walked right in front of the car. They asked me who was who was I who do that think I was thinking that Muppets nesses No I said What do you want you know we are. Nice and you get on your Frum's like look like a police officer I said but you're acting like damn many acts as if this is a play when you don't speak on his playground like this he did it the other night and he just same days stories like that. Well the ghetto grapevine. Not often heard in formal sessions before public bodies. However in mid-October of 1967 the Milwaukee community relations social development commission a body established by Milwaukee County ordinance held for public hearings to air complaints of alleged police harassment or undue use of force. Now the first hearing 400 persons listen to testimony from seven witnesses. The questioning

was led by attorneys Harry F. Peck and Orville Pitts hired a special counsel for the hearings. Charles Smith a welder and a commando of the Milwaukee end he was counsel was one of the first witnesses. He alleged that he was beaten during the October 8 1967 open housing demonstration when police charged into the line of demonstrators. In his testimony Smith described the physical and verbal abuse he claimed he had received the next day I don't know what appointees what job in the law. And somehow or another I don't know who tripped up bail or something but anyway I was laying flat on my bag and the police were swarming around me and I am on the moon faded to mean they were around me. But I didn't know what was going on in a way the police were around me and

I remember saying. I'm trying to get up man I'm sad to get up you know I've got I mean I'm one of the police they get up and they go get up you know like that's you know that's the man I'm trying to get out you know I'm gonna get out you know and then all of a sudden he's pictured just coming to me and I couldn't get up and I got up on my hands and knees the first time and I got up and they get me on the left and I feel back down. And then I put my hands on my here to hold it because I knew it was all me and no and then leave town and fight with them you know nothing like that. So then I was getting hit all over but I was going to town to protect myself and then I heard one police saying Get up nigga get up get up and you know I say man I'm trying to get up on time to get up you know so I did it with something like a pause then I tried to get up again and then the

police would get me all over again my legs were hurt because they would hit me almost all of my legs and everything. So time to get up again I got to get across that sad face. I mean right side here and then I went back to the mission that the records show indicating the area on the right temple. Smith also testified regarding the matter of alleged improper identification by the police. Now when you were being struck about here. Were you able to see any of those who struck you. Yeah song and our last hour with blues tired I mean blue pants on the way to go one night of pain and I did see you know bad just nothing else. Well I know it was on the loose. Let me ask you this Are you telling us that you will be wearing it then one where no period. Because observe that before when you were placed under arrest did you see anybody with a badge.

Only one whether that was the man the petty way that Amanda told you never have to worry about getting it don't worry about it you ain't going to be in here you get a number. No I didn't. Man I almost passed out is that they I would worry about none but my here. Let me ask you this. When you went to court in the morning for jokes or. Did you go did you see any of the police officers. That you saw on coffee can I. Not. It was. The police officer. District Attorney's Office will be. Did you see him out on the bed and I know and I had to that he had to leave the police office at about the time to get me but resisting arrest. This incident happened on a Sunday night on OWN which is my birthday I'll never get there. When you come in there you got me out that failed and told me we're going to the district attorney's office. He had never

seen me in his life. Never until he came and that feeling got me is that he was going to do to turn it off. Let me ask you this Are you telling us that the officer who swapped the complaint against you. Was not one of the officers that you had seen the night before is that correct. I'm saying that Amanda read it right here and they got in for that I resisted a receipt never seen me before in his life but he had a badge on a very he had a pair don't you know. Right. Another witness student Bruce Bagan described other incidents that had taken place during the October marches. Among the things he mentioned was his treatment inside the police patrol wagon when I was. Thrown into this. Van. One of the officers Darren you know stand up you know when you know sit down. And one yell I told you to stand out. The other one hit me for not an ounce. Will that

kind of game went on for a little while so eventually Mr. Reed just laid out. Actually. I vaguely recall. Raising my hand to protect my head again. And I was told. Put your hands down you won't get hurt. And I got my hands out and I got hit in the head. Fol. begins testimony Michael Miller a Milwaukee teacher and a witness to the October night March described how he had seen and we quote Bruce begun being pummeled around sort of like a ball bearing in a pinball machine being hit and bounced from Officer to Officer pummeled beaten with sticks and whatnots end of quote. Miller also described the beating of another man. I was also at the time watching Kenny Malone being and I do not use hyperbole here. I mean this literally

I watched him being beaten into the street. By approximately six officers at one time by what seemed to me almost a superhuman effort Kenny Malone tried to pull himself under a car but was yanked out by his heels and beaten again I swore. And I have seen people beaten in the demonstration before I swore then that this man would never get off the street. But I I also at the same time was watching Bruce Fagan take a later beating. And what what did you observe then. As far as Mr. Bacon is concerned after watching him for approximately two minutes or so a policeman confronted me and told him told me I had to disperse and I was at this time enraged by what I had seen so I told him that I felt that I was I had my rights to stand

there and watch police brutality in action. And for some miracle reason he didn't raise a hand to me but he marched off responding to further questions Miller described the brutality he had seen on other marches. When I use the word would tell you I mean this that for apparently an obviously no reason. They were brutally attacked by officers for instance on one march on a Saturday afternoon on the south side so I don't know the date it was a 16 mile march I know that because I lost five pounds that day. I know one commando was hurtle through a store window for one. Whatever it be they instead of helping in the police Drake in the street beat him. Also on the same march because for the reason I take it this happened right in front of me. He was a black man and she was white. Something

that cannot be tolerated by some bigots. He was yanked OnStar beat and they started beating on him and see historically try to get some reason from the police. Stop it you're hurting him don't know what my husband and she was obviously pregnant. They took a nightstick and rammed it right into her stomach. Then in response to the question of whether the police force chosen to follow the martyrs was in his opinion made up of bigots. Miller noted. I'm telling you that the way I view it and the way I have come to see it and that not all police practice brutality but some do right and it Norm Berg. I ducked and was headed down that those people who stand by and the evil take of course are just as guilty. So therefore I don't say some policemen are involved in this. I say all

policemen are involved in this.