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http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwau...ts-continue-to-surface-rs4ovsg-144484255.html
Complaints from people who might have been victimized by Milwaukee police during strip searches continued to surface Tuesday, and most of the eight officers under suspicion in the matter have hired defense attorneys.
At least six of the eight officers under investigation for breaking the law while conducting strip searches hired prominent defense attorneys, the Journal Sentinel confirmed Tuesday.
The complaints include allegations that officers in District 5 on the city's north side sexually assaulted people and violated their civil rights while conducting rectal searches for drugs on the street.
When asked Thursday whether more than the eight officers are under investigation, Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn said:
"It's a finite number and most of those officers are not targets, but rather they were at the scene when somebody made an allegation against someone else."
Those under suspicion include Sgt. Jason Mucha, who has been investigated in the past after suspects accused him of beating them and planting drugs on them, and Officer Michael Gasser, who wrote on his Facebook account the investigation will not change the way he does his job.
On Wednesday, the Milwaukee County district attorney's office convened a secret John Doe proceeding to investigate the case, the newspaper reported Tuesday.
The proceeding can be used to compel officers to testify about what they saw under the promise of immunity from prosecution.
The Milwaukee Police and Fire Commission has received two complaints that might be related to the strip search investigation, said Michael Tobin, executive director of the commission.
Jonathan Safran, who represented Frank Jude Jr. after he was beaten by Milwaukee police officers in 2004, is representing two people who say they were victimized by police during searches.
He said he has been in contact with the district attorney's office about possible sexual assault charges.
Safran said he is concerned that a small number of officers might be charged with sexual assault, but other officers or the sergeant, who might have had a role in the incident, escape punishment.
According to state law, it's illegal for officers to perform a cavity search that involves someone's genitals.
Such a search must be performed in private by licensed medical personnel once the suspect has been arrested.
Police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz did not provide a response Tuesday to whether the department has received any complaints since Thursday or how many.
Complaints from people who might have been victimized by Milwaukee police during strip searches continued to surface Tuesday, and most of the eight officers under suspicion in the matter have hired defense attorneys.
At least six of the eight officers under investigation for breaking the law while conducting strip searches hired prominent defense attorneys, the Journal Sentinel confirmed Tuesday.
The complaints include allegations that officers in District 5 on the city's north side sexually assaulted people and violated their civil rights while conducting rectal searches for drugs on the street.
When asked Thursday whether more than the eight officers are under investigation, Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn said:
"It's a finite number and most of those officers are not targets, but rather they were at the scene when somebody made an allegation against someone else."
Those under suspicion include Sgt. Jason Mucha, who has been investigated in the past after suspects accused him of beating them and planting drugs on them, and Officer Michael Gasser, who wrote on his Facebook account the investigation will not change the way he does his job.
On Wednesday, the Milwaukee County district attorney's office convened a secret John Doe proceeding to investigate the case, the newspaper reported Tuesday.
The proceeding can be used to compel officers to testify about what they saw under the promise of immunity from prosecution.
The Milwaukee Police and Fire Commission has received two complaints that might be related to the strip search investigation, said Michael Tobin, executive director of the commission.
Jonathan Safran, who represented Frank Jude Jr. after he was beaten by Milwaukee police officers in 2004, is representing two people who say they were victimized by police during searches.
He said he has been in contact with the district attorney's office about possible sexual assault charges.
Safran said he is concerned that a small number of officers might be charged with sexual assault, but other officers or the sergeant, who might have had a role in the incident, escape punishment.
According to state law, it's illegal for officers to perform a cavity search that involves someone's genitals.
Such a search must be performed in private by licensed medical personnel once the suspect has been arrested.
Police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz did not provide a response Tuesday to whether the department has received any complaints since Thursday or how many.
