Activists praise new MPD officer-involved shooting release policy amid challenge to rule

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Starting Monday, May 1, the Milwaukee Police Department will have to release footage of officer-involved shootings within 48 hours to the victim's family, and within 15 days to the public if someone is seriously hurt or killed.

At a press conference Monday morning, activists with the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR) said this is the culmination of years of work with the Fire and Police Commission (FPC).

Officials with the Milwaukee Police Commission, the rank-and-file union for the Milwaukee Police Department, have filed an injunction, saying the FPC overstepped.

Milwaukee police said a little over a week ago they'll be following the rule.

"Can you imagine years not knowing exactly what happened to your loved one when they died and having to take it from a department that honestly hasn't always been the most honest historically. We're just happy that the families don't have to deal with that, but we do want to see public release of footage much sooner than the current 15 days, but for now, we will call this a victory," said MAARPR member Omar Flores.

Flores says with the video being released to family quickly, this new rule at least gives them closure. He says it also makes it so police have less time to edit video and create a narrative, so people can decide for themselves from the evidence.

Danilo Cardenas, with the Milwaukee Police Association, says that isn't what police do.

"The Milwaukee Police Association isn't advocating to hide any truths or change what happened on any given incident," said Cardenas.

He says unedited footage can be hard for everyday people to understand, which is why it's important investigations, which can take longer than 15 days at times, play out.

Cardenas says otherwise people could make decisions about what happened prematurely.

"People perceive it to be different than what it really was," said Cardenas. "We just want time for our officers to be properly debriefed, properly interviewed, properly investigated before some narrative hits the airways and people perceive it differently than what it really was."

He says that's part of why the police association filed the injunction, saying the FPC doesn't have the right to do this without negotiating with the police union.

"They are an oversight committee not a governing body," said Cardenas.

Activist Angela Lang with Black Leaders Organizing for Communities says, attitude towards accountability is the problem.

"Every single time community members demand accountability we are met with public threats from the Milwaukee Police Association. I don't know about you, I don't think that's a smart strategy in how to build trust," said Lang.

Flores says they're confident the FPC does have the ability to do this and thinks the injunction won't hold.

"What they're supposed to do is listen to the community, and what the community wants, and carry those things out. We don't really feel like there should be negotiation with the Milwaukee Police Association or the Milwaukee Police Department," said Flores.

He says in the future MAARPR wants to continue advocate for the quick release of the names of involved officers and video.

The FPC declined to comment due to ongoing allegations.

The police commission says they expect to know when the hearing on the injunction will be soon.