Wauwatosa residents press city to fire Officer Joseph Mensah, overhaul policing after three fatal shootings

Hundreds of people filled a public listening session in Wauwatosa on July 22 to demand the firing of Officer Joseph Mensah and broader changes to the Wauwatosa Police Department following three fatal encounters in recent years.

The session brought family members of the victims, attorneys, state lawmakers and longtime residents to the microphone to press the mayor and common council for immediate action. “This man is still walking around with his revolver ... I'm not gonna rest until it's done,” said Tracy Cole, the mother of Alvin Cole, addressing the council.

The calls for removal were tied to three deaths attributed to Officer Mensah over a roughly five‑year span and to concerns about racial profiling and the department’s handling of previous investigations. Attorney Kimberly Motley, who represents the Cole, Anderson and Gonzalez families, told the meeting, “Alvin Cole did not shoot his gun at any police officer,” and urged continued investigation and public records production. An attorney who identified herself as of counsel with Motley Legal said traffic‑stop and use‑of‑force data show wide racial disparities; she said about “70 to 71 percent” of traffic stops involved Black drivers in a city she described as roughly 86 percent white.

Why it matters: speakers said the events reflect both specific failures — they urged that Officer Mensah be fired and criminally charged — and long‑running patterns in Wauwatosa policing and civic life that they said have made people of color feel unsafe. Several speakers tied their demands to institutional changes including better data collection, reformed use‑of‑force policies, measures to reduce “living‑while‑Black” encounters and strengthened transparency and records access.

What people said and asked for - Family members: Jay Anderson, the father of Jay Anderson Jr., urged, “Y'all need to fire him ASAP.” Tracy Cole said the family would “keep on marching until it's done.” - Attorneys and advocates: Kimberly Motley and a colleague cited their review of the shootings and open‑records requests they said are still outstanding. Deja Vichney (of counsel, Motley Legal) and other speakers said the department’s handling of past incidents and a lack of timely records undercut public confidence. - Community groups and residents: Local organizations including Tulsa Together and the People’s Revolution urged systemic reforms. Sienna Lytle for Tulsa Together asked the council to “take a deep dive into the culture of policing” and to create accountability beyond individual cases. - Elected officials and policy proposals: Several state legislators and Milwaukee County officials who dialed in or spoke urged concrete policy steps. One county board member proposed reclassifying knowingly false 9‑1‑1 reports that target minorities as a hate crime and urged the city to measure and set goals to reduce “living‑while‑Black” police responses. - Opposition voice: Some residents supported the police and criticized the council’s earlier suspension action, saying officials had acted prematurely and worried about due‑process and public safety; Rob Rasmussen described the council vote to suspend Mensah as a betrayal of the department.

Numbers and specifics raised at the session - Three fatal encounters were repeatedly cited as the central grievance; speakers said Officer Mensah shot three people over about five years and that department records show he discharged his weapon repeatedly in that span (attorneys cited “19 times” fired over five years). - Community advocates and attorneys cited demographic and stop‑data disparities; one attorney said the city is roughly 86 percent white and estimated Black residents at about 8 percent, while traffic‑stop figures presented to the meeting were described as heavily skewed toward Black drivers. - Speakers noted a GoFundMe page supporting Officer Mensah that they said had raised tens of thousands of dollars (a speaker cited roughly $45,000). - Several speakers said Wauwatosa Police do not use body‑worn cameras; others asked the city to publish and measure police response data transparently.

Council response and next steps The mayor and members of the common council maintained that the evening was a listening session and said they would not respond to individual comments or take action during the meeting. At the start, the chair said, “we will not be taking action. We will not be debating, nor will we be responding to any questions or comments. We are here purely to listen.”

Speakers and organizers left with specific demands: terminate Officer Joseph Mensah, remove Chief Barry Weber, provide records the families have requested, adopt new policies on use of force and data reporting, and create mechanisms to hold officers and supervisors accountable. Several protesters said they would continue demonstrations until officials implemented substantive changes.

No formal votes or policy decisions were made during the session; council members did not announce an enforcement timetable. Several state legislators and local officials on the call offered to work with the city on policy changes and data measures.

Context and background The session followed months of protests and public pressure after multiple police shootings in Wauwatosa and nearby communities. Speakers framed the local controversy as part of broader national debates about police accountability and racial justice. Several speakers also urged the city to consider equity‑focused investments and community‑based alternatives to traditional policing as long‑term steps.

What officials can and cannot do Speakers and attorneys discussed the limits and levers of local power: the council controls the city budget and can press for policy changes and reporting requirements, but the hiring and firing of officers are commonly governed by civil‑service rules and the city’s fire and police commission processes. Several speakers urged the council to use available budgetary and personnel levers immediately while pursuing longer‑term reforms.

The session closed with organizers and families reiterating demands and warning of continued protests if the city does not act. Several speakers told the council they would continue public demonstrations and civic pressure until the families’ demands — in particular removal of Officer Mensah and changes in leadership and policy — were met.