Milwaukee City Wire

When 2020 is recalled, the painful memories will include people growing ill and dying of COVID-19, violent encounters between law enforcement officers and protestors, and the smashing of windows during riots.

Wauwatosa witnessed all three. In addition to the pandemic, a 17-year-old, Alvin Cole, was fatally shot by police officer Joseph Mensah at the Mayfair Mall. Protests, which turned violent, followed.

Mensah was suspended but an investigation showed Cole was in possession of a stolen 9mm handgun. He had threatened a person in the mall with it before police responded, fired at least one round and pointed the gun at police officers before he was shot and killed, according to investigators, who relied on eyewitness accounts as well as security camera footage.

On Oct. 7, Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm met with Cole’s family before announcing no charges would be filed in the shooting death. Cole was the third person Mensah has shot and killed since joining the police force five years ago.

“There is sufficient evidence that officer Mensah had an actual subjective belief that deadly force was necessary and that belief was objectively reasonable,” Chisholm said in a document addressed to Police Chief Barry Weber. “I do not believe that the state could disprove self defense or defense of others in this case and, therefore, could not meet the burden required to charge officer Mensah.”

While there were calls of racism, since Cole was Black, and some critics said the shooting was racially motivated, Mensah is Black.

Fearing unrest, the city declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. 

While there were peaceful protests, some turned violent over five nights. At one point a large group of people refused to disperse when ordered to by police and threw large rocks at law enforcement officers and buildings along Swan Boulevard and North Avenue. There were reports, both official and in social media, of reckless driving on the wrong side of roads, graffiti marking up buildings and police vehicles, and the looting of a gas station on North Avenue.

After the damage was done, city workers and community members worked together to clean the streets and help return Wauwatosa to normal.

State Rep. Rob Hutton said this unrest shows that reducing funding for law enforcement will not ease tensions and end problems. In fact, it will likely lead to further trouble, he noted.

Hutton represents a large section of Wauwatosa.

“Ensuring public safety is one of the primary responsibilities of government," he said. "We have seen far too many incidents across the country, and more recently here in Kenosha, where significant violence and arson went unchecked for too long. The damage done by these incidents was significant and will be long-lasting. While many who provoke such destruction are outside agitators, it is a sad reality that this damage will be suffered most by the long-term residents of these communities. 

"I have spoken to many residents of the 13th Assembly District who are greatly concerned about this issue, and very much want to maintain strong public order and safety in their communities.”

He said defunding police departments is not an idea worth of study.

“No – absolutely not,” Hutton said. “This is more than just bad policy. It is dangerous idea on multiple levels. I do not support reducing the budgets of our local police forces.”

Hutton is a strong supporter of law enforcement. Although he has not worked in that field, he said he is willing to listen and learn more about why some people are calling for significant change.

“I have not, nor do any members of my immediate family,” Hutton said. “We cannot dismiss the concerns of many who believe that the justice system is rigged against them, and that is why I support legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Tim Scott [R-S.C.] His legislation could serve as a model for us here in Wisconsin to address the need for appropriate reform.”

The city of Wauwatosa issued guidelines on how to peacefully protest, saying it was a constitutional right.

“The First Amendment protects your right to assemble and express your views through protest,” a release from the city states. “There are a number of ways to peacefully protest in Wauwatosa, and we’ve seen this occur successfully several times.

"You have the right to speak out on other public property, such as parks or plazas in front of government buildings, as long as you are not blocking access to the building or interfering with other purposes the property was designed for."

Hutton said although people should be allowed to express themselves, police officers also have rights and deserve to be respected and protected from harm. His re-election campaign makes that clear.

“I have ridden in squad cars with our officers, and have witnessed firsthand the dangers they face,” he told Milwaukee City Wire. “Our men and women in law enforcement are courageous, and deserving of our appreciation and support.”

His campaign coordinator, Tom Gehl, said law enforcement agencies and staffers respect Hutton.

“He holds endorsements from multiple police forces and sheriffs’ offices; his opponent has none,” Gehl told Milwaukee City Wire.

Hutton, a Republican from Brookfield, Wisconsin, is running for a fifth term to represent District 13 in the state House of Representatives. Before he was elected to the state Assembly in 2012, he served as a Waukesha County supervisor.

He grew up in Brookfield and graduated from Brookfield East High School, where we met his wife Patti. They have four children, Ryan, David, Sarah and Steven.

Hutton earned a degree in history from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He has owned a Milwaukee logistics firm and an industrial coatings business and is a partner in a manufacturing company.

Gehl said although he agrees with Hutton’s positions, he is equally impressed by the way he acts as both a public official and a private person.

“Rob Hutton has lived his entire life in the 13th Assembly District, and is terrific citizen-legislator,” Gehl told Milwaukee City Wire. “He treats everyone with respect, and in this current political climate, provides a much-needed calm demeanor to the Assembly. He works across the political aisle to help shape effective solutions for the residents of his district and the state of Wisconsin.”

He said Hutton is willing to devote time to constituents and try to solve their problems.

“He is serious about his responsibilities and, most recently, has spent countless hours meeting with residents who needed help cutting through the Madison bureaucracy to get their unemployment benefits,” Gehl said. “He regularly meets with  residents, business people, health care workers, and public school officials. He listens to them to better understand their challenges, and to help forge legislation to address those challenges. 

"He is endorsed by multiple current and former school board members from his district. I could not imagine a more well-rounded and qualified individual for this position.”