In a release published Friday, Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas affirmed his commitment to "restoring honor, integrity and trust to law enforcement."
Lucas, who was elected as Milwaukee County sheriff in 2018, reflected on the work he's done in the community leading the department and recent events, such as the death of George Floyd and the death of Daniel Bell, who was killed by Milwaukee police in 1958.
"Since taking office in January 2019, my staff and I have taken decisive action to restructure the operations of the Sheriff’s Office, to align our organizational values with the demands of our community, and to root out racism and all forms of institutional prejudice from the mechanics of Milwaukee County law enforcement," said Lucas. "In this critical moment, it is my hope to share the progress that we have made, and to affirm our commitment to building upon these sweeping reforms as we infuse our efforts with the 'fierce urgency of now.'"
In the news release, Lucas also listed some of the items he and his office have worked on since his election, including the transition of medical care in the Milwaukee County Jail, the reexamination of use-of-force practices within the department and the overall recruitment process.
"For the past eighteen months, we, as a Sheriff’s Office and as a community, have worked successfully to improve the performance and accountability of Milwaukee County’s oldest law enforcement agency. But we cannot and must not claim victory," said Lucas. "No one Sheriff can transform the discourse and practices of an entire profession overnight. Nor can one law enforcement agency, despite the best efforts of the over 600 public servants who strive day-in and day-out to advance the cause of justice within the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office. Instead, we must unite as a community dedicated not only to discussing transformative change, but also to enacting it."
To read the sheriff's full release, read below:
Sheriff Lucas Affirms Commitment to Honoring Community's Trust.docx 07032020- ED by TODAY'S TMJ4 on Scribd
