Black Milwaukee leaders weigh in on death of Tyre Nichols

NOW: Black Milwaukee leaders weigh in on death of Tyre Nichols
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MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Monday, Jan. 30, Black leaders in Milwaukee spoke out against the death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, a Memphis man who died after an encounter with police officers earlier this month.

Fred Royal, 1st Vice President of NAACP Milwaukee branch, drew parallels to similar incidents in Milwaukee involving police violence.

Royal spoke of Frank Jude, a Milwaukee man who was severely beaten by a group of Milwaukee police officers in 2004. Jude won a settlement of $2 million.

Royal pointed out the stop-and-frisk practices in Milwaukee.

"We are currently under a Collin's agreement, which stems from unconstitutional policing theory that was rooted in the stop-and-frisk model," said Royal.

The most recent review of Milwaukee police practices showed officers continue to stop-and-frisk a disproportionate number of people who are Black. That's according to a report from the non-partisan Crime and Justice Institute.

The report found MPD has not made significant improvements since first agreeing to document traffic and pedestrian stops.

That agreement was part of a 2018 $3.4 million settlement.

A federal lawsuit accused police of unconstitutionally stopping minorities in high numbers.

Royal went on to say deeper talks need to be had surrounding community policing throughout the nation.

"It's not police and community relations that should be questioned, it’s the culture within law enforcement that should be at the heart of the conversation," said Royal.

CBS 58 asked Milwaukee police and the Milwaukee police union for comment about Tyre Nichols. They said they would not comment on the case,

CBS 58 also reached out to MPD about policing in Milwaukee, and we have not heard back.

For more information on the Collins act, click the link here

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