Common Council members grilled Milwaukee police Sept. 11 over their enforcement of street takeovers, after over a dozen transpired two weeks ago, while the committee moved forward a proposed city ordinance that would bring a heavier fine to those who spectate the events.
Street takeovers are large gatherings where crowds block off intersections to watch drivers perform doughnuts and other stunts. As they’ve grown popular on social media and attracted significant attention, frustrations over police’s enforcement — a low number of arrests and tows — has grown among council members.
“Let me put a very fine point on it,” said Scott Spiker, chair of the city’s Public Safety and Health Committee. “What MPD is doing in collaboration right now with its partners is not working.”
Police officials defended the department’s work and noted they had arrested one additional person after the Labor Day events in the time since. The department also has what’s known as a directed patrol mission, or a temporary dedicated unit, to deal with takeovers, that is made up of task forces on the city’s north and south sides where takeovers have occurred.
Broadly, the events are difficult to police, as is arresting or citing those there, Heather Hough, chief of staff for the Milwaukee Police Department, told committee members.
That’s because the takeovers happen suddenly, as organizers have turned to private messaging apps to plan them, and they are mobile, often moving locations when police arrive. And when officers do arrive, Hough said, they can only arrest or cite those who are explicitly engaging in illegal behavior.
Often, when police arrive, those there flee quickly, and it becomes a question of whether pursuing is safe, she said.
“My pushback isn’t that our officers will not or should not arrest and refer charges when they’re warranted,” Hough said. “My pushback is to understand when our officers respond to these situations, each situation is unique.”
The takeovers have occurred throughout the city but have been a consistent pester on the city’s north and south sides.
Council president Jose Perez, who represents a portion of the city’s south side, said his constituents want to know what police are doing to stop it.
“I am getting beat up for it,” Perez said.
But what officials are hoping could help is a stronger deterrent in the form of a fine for up to $1,000 for those who spectate at street takeovers. The committee moved forward the proposed city ordinance on Sept. 11, after it had been stalled due to concerns over its legality upon being initially mulled in June.
The ordinance will now move to the full Common Council for approval.
These events have become a leading issue in Milwaukee over the course of the year.
In early spring, police reported that there had been 59 street takeovers since the start of the year. That prompted the spectating ordinance at City Hall, but it stalled through the summer due to concerns over its legality.
The issue returned to the forefront over Labor Day weekend, when police received about 15 calls related to street takeovers. Those took place throughout the city, including downtown, and police arrested three people related to them. The department also issued 26 citations and towed six vehicles.
Hough said the directed patrol mission was not active during the Labor Day takeover, due to having to assist with Water Street enfrocement.
At the committee meeting, council members were frustrated there wasn’t more punishment for those who do takeovers, with Perez noting a June takeover where those involved were effectively asked to disperse.
The Labor Day takeovers prompted the latest outcry and a subsequent press conference with city leaders, along with the police union’s president floating the idea of asking for help from the National Guard.
“These folks who are causing these disruptions in neighborhoods should be held to account,” said Mayor Cavalier Johnson at the Sept. 5 news conference. “Given what we know, participating in these events, it’s not smart.”
As the takeovers have continued throughout the year, Spiker noted they’re likely to decline as winter arrives soon. He warned that would likely be only a temporary solution.
“This problem will peek its head up again in the spring,” he said.
David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee council members move forward street takeover fine, question police enforcement
Reporting by David Clarey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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