Milwaukee Commission To Reconsider Officer Reinstatement

Milwaukee’s Fire and Police Commission will reconsider its decision to reinstate a white police officer who was fired afterpunching a handcuffed black woman in the face. The announcement came during a boisterous meeting last night.

The commission’s two-to-one vote to reinstate officer Richard Schoen has touched off the latest controversy between Milwaukee police and the city’s African-American community. Schoen struck motorist Jeanine Tracy last year, after arresting her when she started arguing during a traffic stop.About threedozen protestors came to speak at last night’s commission meeting, and there was plenty of anger.

Eventually, Jeanine Tracy spoke to the panel, and described how she feltbeing punched and having her hair pulled.

“It feels bad,” she said.”It feels scary. It feels terrible. I feel terrible.”

The Fire and Police Commission will reconsider its decision on officer Schoen next week. Two county supervisors want the panel members to resign, and there are more community calls for Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn to step down, even though Flynn fired Schoen.