Milwaukee police add local cops to RNC patrols following shooting by Columbus officer

(The Center Square) – Milwaukee Police are making changes for the final days of the Republican National Convention after Tuesday’s downtown shooting.

The city’s police department said it will be adding local officers to the bike patrols from out-of-state police departments in the convention’s soft security zone.

The move comes after a group of officers from Columbus, Ohio, shot and killed a homeless man blocks away from convention Tuesday.

“At the time of the incident, the CPD bicycle unit officers were briefing and de-briefing the day’s events. CPD had responded to demonstrations in the area of 14th and Vliet the day prior. CPD’s response to this incident was not prompted by a call for service, but by officers’ observation of an armed individual threatening another unarmed person,” Milwaukee Police said in a statement.

The officers’ body camera footage shows the man with two knives attacking another man. Still, protesters say they want justice. Voces de la Frontera on Wednesday called the shooting a murder.

“We grieve the senseless killing of Samuel Sharpe, a homeless and beloved member of our community, by a Columbus police officer. We denounce the use of excessive and deadly force and extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family,” Voces de la Frontera said.

Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera and Voces de la Frontera Action, said. “Voces along with the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and other organizations in Milwaukee have warned about the dangers of bringing nearly 4,000 additional law enforcement officials to cover the RNC, fearing that heavy police presence would increase the risk of deadly encounters, particularly involving out-of-state officers who do not know our community.”

Milwaukee Police say local officers are handling all “regular calls” during the rest of the convention.

“Since this incident, MPD has ensured that an MPD officer is assigned to not just forward-facing roles, but also specialty units such as bicycles. The CPD officers involved in this incident will not continue to work the RNC,” Milwaukee Police added. “MPD is confident in the operational plan in place for the RNC. That being said, we recognize the importance in making continual improvements as situations occur. MPD has made adjustments at this time by adding MPD representation in bicycle units in an effort to best serve our community and its needs.”