Following the police shooting of a man on Madison’s East Side, several hundred protesters gathered at the site and marched to the Capitol Square, where they occupied the stage at Concerts on the Square, prompting the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra to cancel the event.
Calling the shooting “a tragedy,” WCO CEO Joe Loehnis said the orchestra “stands in solidarity” with Madison’s Black community, and announced the concert’s cancellation about 45 minutes after its scheduled start time.
At one point, protesters urged concertgoers to stand in solidarity with them, many of whom did, joining in chants of “Black lives matter.” Protesters then marched back down East Washington Avenue and held a candlelight vigil in memory of Corey Ruiz, the man identified as the victim in Wednesday’s shooting.
At one point, protesters urged concertgoers to stand in solidarity with them, many of whom did, joining in chants of “Black lives matter.” Protesters then marched back down East Washington Avenue and held a candlelight vigil in memory of Corey Ruiz, the man identified as the victim in Wednesday’s shooting.
Independent Monitor “under attack”
The Civilian Police Oversight Board, which oversees the Office of the Independent Police Monitor, seized on the incident to urge people to protect the OIPM’s independence.
An ordinance amendment that would clarify the role of the OIPM within city government, and its obligations to follow City policies. Critics argue the amendment would curtail the office’s independence and threaten its access to records and investigative material such as police video of incidents.
“The Office (of the Independent Police Monitor) is opening an independent review consistent with its authority and responsibilities,” said CPOB Chair Maia Pearson. “It has been gathering statements and footage from nearby witnesses, and we’re watching as the situation escalated. This is now considered to be an active, an open investigation, and we intend to hold this with the highest level of integrity as we continue to gather information, and I just want to be clear when I say the highest level of integrity. The Police Civilian Oversight Board and the Office of Independent Monitor have been under attack constantly in all the years that I have been part of this board, and I want you to know that we hold integrity at the highest form.”
“We are under attack,” said PCOB Vice Chair Helyn Luisi Mills. “Even while we were meeting yesterday and this week, the City Council continues to sponsor amendments that take away our independence and our access, our unfettered access to data, our unfettered access to the videos, our unfettered access to the information that we would need to do full, independent, unbiased investigations.”
Both urged residents to attend and speak at the August 4 Common Council meeting to oppose the amendments, which were tabled at the council’s June meeting.
Common Council President Sabrina Madison, a cosponsor of the amendments, announced late Wednesday that she would host a community listening session at 5 pm Thursday at the Madison Municipal Building, room 215.
“I don’t think folks should have to wait weeks to speak directly to their elected officials, especially when there is a community member killed by a local police officer,” she wrote in a social media post.
She said she’s also invited the Police Chief, District Attorney’s office, the WI DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), and the Office of the Independent Monitor.
The shooting
Madison Police Chief John Patterson said at a press briefing earlier Wednesday that Ruiz was believed to be “checking” parked cars when police made contact with him, and he fled on a bicycle. Cell phone video shows officers knocking him off of that bicycle at the corner of Baldwin and Williamson.
Patterson said he then produced a “fixed blade knife,” and that one officer was injured with that knife. Officers then used a taser to attempt to subdue the man, and the same officer who was injured fired three shots about five seconds later. Ruiz was transported to a hospital where he died.
Patterson did not identify the officer who shot Ruiz.
Patterson acknowledged that today’s shooting happened in the same neighborhood where a Madison police officer killed Tony Robinson in 2015.
“I ask that everyone in our community please keep this particular neighborhood and the historical trauma, including today, in mind,” he said.
He also noted that cell phone video circulating online showed “a perspective,” and asked the community to remain patient until all information can be gathered.
