When a special prosecutor decided not to issue state charges against three Milwaukee police officers involved in the fatal arrest of Derek Williams, it wasn't a shock to some people in town.
No; that's not a good thing.
For decades in this city, there's been a list of civilians injured or killed in confrontations with Milwaukee police officers that qualified as an abuse of the officers' powers. It included names like Daniel Bell, Ernest Bell and Justin Fields who died after violent encounters with police along with names like Frank Jude Jr. who was brutally beaten by off-duty officers at a party.
When an inquest jury looking into Williams' death decided for the first time in 25 years there was enough evidence to issue charges against Milwaukee cops involved in a fatal shooting or in-custody death, some people were encouraged.
Others predicted to me that despite the inquest jury recommendation, they felt no charges would come out of it. After all, they said this is Milwaukee and Williams was a young black man suspected of a crime.
So his life didn't matter.
According to Franke, there was probable cause to believe the officers committed an offense but not enough evidence for conviction.
Most of all, I'm sad for the city and the enduring stain that hangs over these types of incidents involving some cops and members of the community they are supposed to protect.
Reports say the officers will be returned to active duty status soon. With no charges issued in his death, it's almost like Williams' life never really counted.
And that's hard to accept.
Eugene Kane is veteran Milwaukee journalist and nationally award winning columnist.
Kane writes about a variety of important issues in Milwaukee and society that impact residents of all backgrounds.
