Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Milwaukee South Side Alderman Blasts Police Department And Bradley Tech High School For Student Brawl Blackout

Photo: MPS

Police OpenSky radio communications keeps response to incidents from media and public

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 7, 2010

Milwaukee - On Tuesday, Alderman Robert "Bob" Donovan from the 8th District exposed and blasted both Milwaukee Public Schools administration (MPS) and the Milwaukee Police Department's (MPD) lack to inform the media, public and parents of students about an alleged gang brawl at Bradley Tech High School on November 30. Donovan in a press release says, the brawl involved at least 28 police officers, 39 squads cars and sargeants who arrested 18 students and had recovered a sawed-off rifle and fake gun outside the school. Donovan claims it was a gang fight.
MPS says, both the sawed-off rifle and fake gun were found in an area away from the school and the youths taken into custody for the rifle and fake gun were not students at Bradley Tech.
The teens arrested ranged in ages 14 to 18, including Deandre Martin, 18, who is charged as an adult. Ten of the youths were referred to Children's Court Center and are facing charges connected to the November brawl incident.
The brawl began when Milwaukee students posted comments criticizing certain Chicago high schools and targeted students on Facebook. Milwaukee school officials fearing retaliation from Chicago students they decided to shut down four high schools including Bradley Tech. Students called relatives about the school shut down and they showed up at Bradley Tech. MPS is planning to ban cell phones during school hours.
Chicago students apparently showed up in Milwaukee, but police haven't released information about any Chicago student taken into custody during the November incident.
Donovan stated, "It is unconscionable to me that citizens of Milwaukee haven't been made aware of this situation at the school... I believe that it borders on criminal behavior for MPS officials not to have notified public officials about the incidents at Bradley Tech." The school should be declared a nuisance property and should be closed because it has become a "dumping ground" for troubled students by MPS, according to Donovan.
Alderman Donovan came short of calling for an inquiry by the Common Council of the blackout of information by MPD and MPS. 
Police also responded to a second incident in December. On December 1, 29 police squads were assigned to patrol the school area and on December 2, 14 squads were assigned once again, but no information was released.
The MPD OpenSky radio communications can't be monitored by the media or the public. The police communication's media director failed to post or send out a press release informing the media about the massive police involvement and incident at Bradley Tech High School in November. MPS has also failed to inform public officials and parents of students about such incidents, according to Alderman Donovan.
MPD has previously kept information from the media and public concerning police response and involvement in certain incidents. Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn has not commented on Donovan's allegations that the police department has blackout information from the media and public.

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