Anger and frustration as Milwaukee community calls for quicker release of MPD body camera video

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Thursday night, community members and activists voiced distrust with the Milwaukee Police Department at the first Fire and Police Commission meeting since videos were made public of the Tyre Nichols beating in Memphis.

Among the speakers were two mothers of men killed by Milwaukee officers.

Emotions ranged from anger to frustration to grief as about a dozen people called for changes to MPD's body camera policy. They want more transparency and quicker turnaround time to release video to the public so that everyone can see the evidence MPD sees.

Maria Hamilton, the mother of Dontre Hamilton, told the commission, "You all are sitting in these seats because you work for the community, not the system. And the system is broken."

Maria Hamilton was one of several people that did not hold back Thursday night. The release of the Tyre Nichols videos refueled their calls for change. She said, "We do not feel safe in our community with the Milwaukee Police Department."

The 2014 shooting death of Maria's son Dontre by MPD officer Christopher Manney led the department to equip officers with body cameras.

For roughly a year the Fire and Police Commission has been reviewing the video release policy, but community members want it faster.

Casey Kline said, "What we need is the community to be able to see what is done by the police so that we can also protect ourselves and protect our own legal safety."

In all, roughly a dozen people addressed the commission -- in person and virtually -- nearly all of them calling on MPD to release body camera video to the public much quicker than current policy calls for.

Omar Flores said, "15 days is far too long for release of footage to the public."

Most FPC members attended the meeting virtually, but the commission chair and executive director were there in person.

Chair Edward Fallone said, "When you try to get feedback from multiple perspectives, and incorporate multiple views, it takes time. And I know it's frustrating for members of the public who would like to see quicker action."

Speakers said more accountability and transparency will help build more trust in the police department, especially after the latest death. A man named Femi said, "As we now know from body cam and pole cam footage showed the police in Memphis shared false stories of Tyre."

The MPD body cam policy was not on the agenda Thursday night, and so the commission did not discuss it. But Chair Edward Fallone said it would likely be on the agenda for a meeting in mid- or late-February and could ultimately be adopted sometime in March.