New Racine violence prevention manager: No regrets about parole board controversy, dismissed corruption charge

 

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Racine's new violence prevention manager is a familiar name, both because of his previous jobs with the city and the controversies that have recently surrounded him.

John Tate II began the job this week as Racine launches its Office of Violence Prevention, backed by $1.5 million in funding over the next three years through a state program aimed at using some of Wisconsin's federal pandemic relief to address public safety and mental health.

Tate will take on the effort to reduce violence in this city following months of controversy stemming from both his time leading the state's parole commission and a criminal charge he faced over how he was initially hired for Racine's violence prevention position.

Tate was charged in April by Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hanson with one count of having private interest in a public contract while working in a public capacity.

Hanson argued it was corrupt for Tate, who was president of the Racine Common Council, to have presided over the creation of a "violence interruption coordinator" position last July, then apply for the job in the fall.

Court records also noted Tate negotiated with two Racine officials to finalize a salary of $101,698; that was nearly $700 more than the upper limit of the salary range from when the job was posted.

Tate accepted the job after having briefly accepted the independent police monitor position for the city of Madison. 

Judge Eugene Gasiorkiewicz dismissed the charge one week after it was filed. Hanson did not respond to questions Tuesday.

In an interview outside City Hall Tuesday, Tate noted the prompt dismissal and added he didn't think there was anything wrong with how he negotiated his new job within the city.

"A person who's seeking a job, it's always in their best interest to negotiate," Tate said. "So, no, I don't regret negotiating."

The city eventually reposted the position; Tate reapplied for it, and he was once again offered the position. A city spokesperson said Tate's salary now is $104,730, citing a raise and step increase all city employees received since last fall. 

"For the critics who say the process was what it was, ultimately, the process was reset," Tate said. "We went through it from beginning to end once again, and fortunately, came to the same space."

In a statement explaining the decision to once again hire Tate, Mayor Cory Mason noted Tate's background in both public policy and social services.

"His expertise in crisis intervention and communication, complemented by his background in individual and family therapy, renders him an invaluable asset to the city’s efforts," Mason said.

In May 2022, Tate received statewide scrutiny when Gov. Tony Evers asked him to resign from his position as chair of the Wisconsin Parole Commission.

Evers, who appointed Tate to the commission in 2019, received harsh criticism over the board's decision to grant parole to Douglas Balsewicz less than 25 years into an 80-year sentences for fatally stabbing his wife, Johanna, to death in their West Allis home.

Evers urged Tate to rescind Balsewicz's parole and later asked for Tate's resignation; Tate agreed to both reverse the parole decision and step down from the board.

Tuesday, Tate said he wouldn't go back and do anything differently from his time as parole commission chair.

"I don't regret my time serving as the chair of the parole commission because the positive impact that we've had on lives," he said. "Holding the values that we believe in -- redemption and second chances."

Another criticism that led to Evers calling for Tate's resignation was victims' families saying they weren't notified parole had been granted for their loved ones' killer. 

Tate pointed to the state's Office of Crime Victim Services, which is tasked with making the initial notification. Tate said, in some cases, relatives hadn't signed up with the office to receive updates.

"The process of who and how we notify people was registration was required," he said. "And if we don't know people exist, we couldn't notify those people."

Vision for preventing violence

Looking ahead at his new set of duties, Tate said he wanted to initially focus on addressing gun violence in the city.

"And the way that we do that is ultimately through community collaboration," Tate said.

Racine has seen an increase in homicides over each of the past two years; after recording five homicides in 2020, there were 9 in 2021, then 11 last year. So far, there have been seven homicides this year, according to data provided by the Racine Police Department.

Racine police records only have accurate counts of non-fatal shootings since 2021. There were 61 non-fatal shootings in 2021, then the city recorded 69 last year. There have been 35 so far this year.

Auto theft reports jumped in 2020 to 179 after there were 139 reports in 2019, mirroring a trend reflected in other cities across the U.S., including Milwaukee. After recording 197 auto theft reports in 2021, there were 187 last year. So far this year, there have been 134 stolen vehicles reported.

When asked what the office's collaboration efforts would include, Tate suggested there could be town halls scheduled, efforts to simply talk to people on the street and work with different gyms in the city to schedule basketball tournaments in an effort to reach young teens.

Tate also touted the connections he's made as a lifelong Racine native, including his time working as a therapist and later on the common council.

"I know somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody," he said. "So, when we're trying to reach folks who are otherwise hard to reach, I know people who are almost the only ones who can reach certain segments and pockets of our community."