Common Council urges FPC to document each time a weapon is drawn by an officer on duty

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Common Council approved legislation Tuesday, July 7, urging the Fire and Police Commission to require officers to file a report each time they draw a gun, mace or stun gun on duty.

The rule would require officers to file a report even if the weapon is pulled but not used, and according to a news release, "demographic information, including race of the individual whom the weapon was drawn against" should be included in the report.

Alderman Khalif J. Rainey authored the legislation, which was co-sponsored by Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, and Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd.

“By creating a rule that would require police officers to file a report every time they draw a gun, mace, or stun gun while on duty, the Milwaukee Police Department will be able to better provide information to the public,” said Alderman Rainey, chair of the Community and Economic Development Committee. “Requiring these additional incident reports would hold officers accountable and allow them to reflect on the incident that occurred.”

“This resolution is especially important to the Black community and other people of color who are at a higher risk of experiencing excessive force by a police officer,” said Alderman Rainey. “The reports would be another tool for the Fire and Police Commission when conducting investigations of officer misconduct, and I strongly encourage the FPC to take up this issue.”