Will breaking Milwaukee scandal sink Barrett, recall?
Generally speaking, the public puts great trust in their police departments doing the right thing. Generally speaking, people want to know that their police department is telling them the truth. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's investigation into the Milwaukee Police Department is casting a giant shadow on the Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee's Police Chief and Mayor Tom Barrett. The most troubling report is in the video.
First, according to FBI guidelines, a crime should be classified as aggravated assault if a weapon was used, the victim was seriously injured or if there was an intent to harm the victim.
Here's a transcript of the report on Antonio Hoskins:
Antonio Hoskins, then 21, choked his pregnant girlfriend, punched her in the head and threatened to kill her. Then he struck her with a 2X4, causing cuts and bruises. The incident should've been listed as an aggravated assault because it hits all three points. But the Department's own records show that it was reported to the state and to the FBI as a simple assault.
The first thing that should happen is for Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn to be fired and for him to lose his pension. Second, Mayor Tom Barrett should be taken to the political woodshed for not catching this scandal.
It isn't too harsh to think that Barrett should get thumped in Wisconsin's recall election. He should also resign as Milwaukee's mayor. Whether he knew about it or not, it's unacceptable for a big city mayor to be this clueless about something of this magnitude.