Sheriff's task force to search cars in Milwaukee for guns

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ^ | 7 May 03 | Reid J. Epstein

[Mr. Silverback]

Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. announced Tuesday he has established a gun crime task force that will rely on so-called consent searches of cars in the city, a practice that has been restricted among Milwaukee police.

Police Chief Arthur Jones was conspicuously absent from Clarke's news conference, attended by Mayor John O. Norquist, County Executive Scott Walker, U.S. Attorney Steven M. Biskupic and others. Clarke said Jones was "not invited, for no particular reason."

The chief said later that he didn't respond to Clarke's earlier effort to involve him because "it wasn't necessary," and that he hoped deputies' searches don't violate the rights of innocent citizens.

Consent searches, in which police get drivers' permission to search vehicles stopped for minor infractions, can turn up evidence of more serious crimes. Proponents say the tactic helps police find drugs and guns.

But critics say the practice invites abuse. In 1999, as concerns about racial profiling heated up nationwide, Jones changed Police Department policy to require that officers be able to demonstrate a "reasonable and articulable suspicion of evidence of contraband contained within the vehicle" if they seek consent to search.

Both Clarke and Jones have been mentioned as possible candidates for the 2004 mayor's race, but Clarke said Tuesday's announcement had nothing to do with politics. He said he has been planning the gun initiative for six months because he wanted to give deputies "every resource at our disposal" to combat gun violence.

"Our officers aren't going to need 17 stamps of approval to get things done," he said. "They're going to be able to make decisions themselves."

Clarke calls the new task force the Gun Reduction Interdiction Program, or GRIP. Sixteen deputies, who have taken an extra 40 hours of constitutional rights training, with work in pairs from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. and wear special black uniforms, rather than the standard brown.

Clarke said new scanners will allow GRIP deputies to monitor Police Department radio frequencies to better determine where illegal gun activity is taking place. Deputies and police officers cannot communicate with their standard radios - and still won't be able to.

"It's very silly, but we can overcome these things," Clarke said of the communication barrier.

Jones' absence 'telling' Robert "Woody" Welch, the chairman of the Fire and Police Commission, called Jones' absence from the task force "telling."

"One of the primary duties of a chief of police is to work cooperatively with other forms of government," Welch said.

In a March 18 letter to Jones, Clarke invited the Police Department to join the gun program, which he launched April 1.

"Our agencies working together in a cooperative effort by sharing intelligence and manpower would be a very positive step toward the prevention, control and reduction of crime in the city of Milwaukee," Clarke wrote. He said Jones has yet to respond to the letter.

"I don't want to read into the fact that I haven't heard from him," Clarke said. "But what do I have to do?"

Jones said he spoke with Clarke last week about an unrelated matter. "He never mentioned this to me," Jones said.

He expressed concerns about aspects of GRIP.

"Allowing officers to stop and search people, I don't think that that's in the best interest of the citizens of the city of Milwaukee," Jones said.

At the news conference, Norquist said the sheriff's initiative will help deter violent criminals.

"The main reason criminals commit crime is they think they can get away with it," Norquist said.

Some aldermen later expressed general support, though at least one shared Jones' concerns.

Ald. Tom Nardelli, chairman of the council's Public Safety Committee, said everyone can support reducing the number of illegal guns on city streets.

"It really doesn't make a difference who's doing it," he said. "If the sheriff has the kind of resources in his department, and the backing of Scott Walker and the County Board to do it, that's great."

Ald. Willie Hines agreed, with one caveat: "I would hope, however, that innocent individuals aren't harassed and their rights aren't violated in the process."

In December, the Fire and Police Commission directed Jones to develop a plan to fight violent crime. In response, Jones placed up to 300 officers per day on overtime, later reducing that to a maximum of 186 officers. Last week, he cut the extra patrols back to between 4 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Under the sheriff's initiative, deputies are exclusively assigned to gun crime.

"This will be their sole focus," he said. "I can't have them tied up for two or three hours investigating a traffic accident."

Clarke said Milwaukeeans are "not safe in our own homes. We're hostages behind security systems and locked doors.

But police department statistics show violent crime in the city is down 17% compared with last year, with shootings down 26%, the number of people shot down 19% and the number of gun-related incidents down 21%. As of Tuesday afternoon, there have been 33 homicides in Milwaukee, vs. 34 at this point in 2002.

"David Clarke's assertions are not true," Jones said. "The Milwaukee Police Department is effective in reducing crime in city of Milwaukee," Jones said. "The numbers speak for themselves."

Greg J. Borowski of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.

[PatrioticAmerican]

Are guns banned in Milwaukee? If so, I think I ound a major factor in the crime rate.

[_Jim]

"...everyone can support reducing the number of illegal guns on city streets."

I don't.

"Illegal guns" do not kill or harm fellow citizens.

Fellow citizens kill or harm fellow citizens.

I think the POINT here was illegal OWNERSHIP - by a felon or a 'yute' who was not of age.

THIS is point those who *blindly* support the Second Amendment FAIL to comprehend - firearm ownership is not for every one - there HAS to be some qualification such as sanity (sound mind), of-age, clean, non-felony record ...

[Larry Lucido]

Clarke is a hero. The people of Milwaukee's central city are prisoners in their own homes

If that's true (and I don't doubt that it is), then the answer is more, not less, guns. Arm the citizens and teach them how to defend their homes.

[Boot Hill]

The article says:   "Consent searches, in which police get drivers' permission to search vehicles stopped for minor infractions..."

Citizen's rule #1 of vehicle stops:   NEVER EVER AGREE TO A "CONSENT" SEARCH OF ANY KIND.

And that definitely includes so-called "field sobriety tests". No matter what they say or threaten you with, you are not required to submit to either. Be polite and clear, but be firm.

If they ask, tell them you are acting on advice of attorney, but add nothing more. Avoid the temptation to explain the 4th and 5th Amendments to them.

--Boot Hill

[budwiesest]

there HAS to be some qualification

Infringments? Which version of the second ammendment have you been reading?

[Lurker]

I guess that's why the Founders put all those qualifications into the 2nd Amendment you idiot.

Spoken like a true F Trooper....

L

[Lurker]

The F Troop version.

L

[budwiesest]

Thought maybe Feinstein or Schumer had rewritten it while I was getting my truck smogged.

[Nebr FAL owner]

From SA brownshirt to SS Einsaetz Gruppe that's WTF.

[2nd_Amendment_Defender]

A police officer's job is to enforce the law and help to keep the general peace of a community. It is not their job to randomly search cars to look for whatever they want.

This story really ticks me off. It is a blatant violation of Fourth Amendment rights.

I know in New York state they sometimes do "Seat Belt Checkpoints." They slow up traffic looking into your car to make sure you have your seat belt on. (They do it to save peoples' lives not to make money off tickets.) I told my wife that if I ever see one of these ahead on the road that I am going to turn around if possible to avoid it.

Here we have people driving recklessly, and other misfits to take care of in almost every city and yet it seems some Cops have nothing to do rather than harass peaceful citizens with nazi warrantless searches. It is disgusting.

[_Jim]

Infringments? Which version of the second ammendment have you been reading?

UNDER AGE gang members can run around with Uzi's?

I WOULD GUESS that YOU'RE OKAY with that?

[_Jim]

I guess that's why the Founders put all those qualifications into

ANOTHER LAME BRAIN WHO WOULD ENDORSE "FIREARMS FOR FELONS" ...

[Dan from Michigan]

"Do you consent to a search?"
No.

End of story.

[Paul C. Jesup]

There is at least one person in Milwaukee County that deserves to be arrested for carrying a gun and that is Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr himself.

He should be JAILED for making everyone else live by a law that he does NOT obey.

I for one am tired of the hypocritical jack boot thugs. It is time for someone to shove these laws, that they themselves don't obey, right back down their throats.

[supercat]

THIS is point those who *blindly* support the Second Amendment FAIL to comprehend - firearm ownership is not for every one - there HAS to be some qualification such as sanity (sound mind), of-age, clean, non-felony record ...

I see nothing that indicates the term "people" was intended to mean anything less than "all free persons". I will grant that slaves were never intended to have their rights protected. Until emancipation (either by age or court process) minors are legally slaves of their parents. People convicted of severe crimes can become slaves of the state per the Thirteenth Amendment.

Free people, however, are not to be denied arms.

[Dan from Michigan]

Sheriff John Bonnel

Sheriff Hollywood with the shades?

[_Jim]

CONSDIER it another 'seatbelt check' - but for properly owned firearms this time.

Ya know, it's well meaning little do-gooders like yourself with myopic vision that FAIL to see that firearm ownership needs *some* regulation, some criteria for ownership in a community.

Lily-white white-bread 2nd Amendment 'pushers' like yourself who live safely in your 'bunkers' out in the country DON'T take into consideration a scenario in a big urban city where the criminal element has nearly completely taken over ...

[scott7278]

Now we know where the Republican Guard went...they're in Milwaukee!

[_Jim]

Free people, however, are not to be denied arms.

So, of-age, sane, non-felons are to be considered 'free people'?

(You sound like a nut ball with this 'free people' BS.)

[The UnVeiled Lady]

If they ask, tell them you are acting on advice of attorney, but add nothing more. Avoid the temptation to explain the 4th and 5th Amendments to them. --Boot Hill

May I ask WHY you shouldn't quote the 4th? If you tell them they CAN search your car as soon as they show you a "warrant SIGNED AND DATED BY A JUDGE, supported by oath or affirmation and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons and things to be seized" they know you know more about the Constitution then they do and should back off.