Milwaukee Police Chief Nannette Hegerty issued the following statement regarding the verdicts in the federal civil rights trial in the Frank Jude, Jr. case. Former Milwaukee police officers Jon Bartlett, Andrew Spengler and Daniel Masarik all were found guilty of two counts: conspiring to violate civil rights and assault under color of law. Suspended officer Ryan Packard was found not guilty on each count.
Here is Hegerty's statement:
"Those responsible for the beating of Frank Jude on Oct. 24, 2004 have now been held accountable for their actions by a court of law.
"I would like to remind the public that the three former Milwaukee Police Officers involved were held accountable by the Milwaukee Police Department when I terminated them in 2005. At that time, I handed down 13 disciplines in this matter - including nine people I dismissed from this Department. My record is clear that I will not tolerate misconduct on the Milwaukee Police Department and those who cross the line will be dealt with severely.
"While those who committed this crime were off duty at the time of the incident, I remain saddened and disappointed that anyone who has worn the badge of a Milwaukee Police Officer has disgraced themselves and this entire Department in such a fashion.
"This incident has severely damaged our relationships with the community and we have worked hard to try and repair it. It has demoralized the good men and women of the Milwaukee Police Department who have seen the relationships they build on a daily basis made more difficult by what occurred two and one half years ago.
"The Milwaukee Police Department now has more stringent hiring practices than ever and we frequently bring in trainers to teach officers Tactical Communication - how to talk to people. We have established Crisis Intervention Training which educates officers on how to deal with those in mental health crisis. There are many other training initiatives that make this a better police department.
"What I cannot do is change the tragedy of Oct. 24, 2004. What I can do is assure the community that going forward, from the Office of the Chief to the Officer on patrol, we will work to earn their trust every day."
Ald. Willie Hines also released a statement:
"Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." The state case against former officers Bartlett, Spengler and Masarik left our city sick with the aftermath of injustice, but today's federal case has allowed us -- finally! -- to savor the sweetness of justice.
"I want to commend the U.S. Attorney and the jury for coming to this conclusion. This verdict helps to ease the pain that we have felt as a community on behalf of Frank Jude Jr. for far too long."
