The police killing of a man on Wednesday afternoon on South Baldwin and Williamson streets have left many upset and frustrated with the Madison Police Department’s conduct. In a Wednesday press conference, Madison Police Chief John Patterson said the man entered a physical altercation with four police officers and reportedly had a knife that injured an officer. The man was tasered, which Patternson said was not effective, and according to bystander videos, three seconds after he was tasered an officer shot the man three times.
Community protests were held Wednesday night as the community absorbed this news. Originally a community listening session was set to be held on Thursday night, but it was postponed to accommodate a vigil that was scheduled at the same time. Madison Public Market also postponed their grand opening, which was set for Thursday evening. Another protest is planned for today at 6 p.m. on the corner of Williamson and Baldwin streets. [ 🎧 City Cast Madison, News 3, Instagram]
What are Local Politicians Reactions?
Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway released a statement saying she was “angered and saddened” by the killing and that “as a city, as a community, as a society, we need to do better.”
In a press release, Dane County Executive Melissa Agard said “A family is grieving an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with them, with everyone affected by this tragedy, and with the bystanders and emergency personnel who responded to an incredibly difficult situation.” She said the public deserved “a full accounting of what occurred, and everyone involved deserves a process guided by facts, evidence, and accountability.”
Common Council President Sabrina Madison also released a statement on Wednesday.
“Like many of you, I have now seen the videos circulating on social media of today's officer involved shooting on the east side of Madison. Straight up, these videos are very difficult to watch. They are both disturbing and painful,” she said. I've received several calls from alders with questions and what I can say without a doubt is that I expect a full, comprehensive, and transparent independent investigation into today's shooting of a community member.”
At a press conference Thursday, Rhodes-Conway identified the man who was killed as Corey Ruiz. While she said that he was in his 30s, she did not specific his exact age or date of birth. Rhodes-Conway also pledged that funding for body-worn cameras for Madison police officers will be part of her next executive budget.
Thursday's press conference was disrupted by protesters, one of whom identified himself as Carlos Dixon. Dixon seized the microphone during the conference for a few minutes and demanded immediate charges against the officer. [City of Madison, Dane County, News 3, TMJ]
What are the Candidates for Governor Saying?
Democratic primary candidates have also weighed in. Francesca Hong, who currently represents Madison’s 76th Assembly District, said she was “horrified and devastated” and referred to the killing as an “execution.” She called for the police to immediately release all of the footage of the event and answer to the public for why this escalated to a death.
While Milwaukee County Executive and Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley also expressed his horror at the death, he did not condemn it as directly as Hong. Saying, “We must allow the facts to come to light while reaffirming our shared commitment to justice, accountability, and the dignity of every human life.”
Candidate and former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes also said he was “deeply disturbed and pained by the video footage” of the man’s death. He called for the community to “put aside all differences and grieve together as a community,” as facts continue to come forward in the on-going investigation. He said that the investigation must be "independent and transparent.”
On Facebook, State Sen. Kelda Roys, also a democratic gubernatorial candidate, called for the city to demand justice for “a full, independent investigation and the responsible officers held fully accountable under the law, as required by Wisconsin statute.” She said there was no justification for the manner in which the man was killed and that “his life mattered.”
In a press release, former Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration Joel Brennan said his heart was with the family of the man who was killed and that Madison “deserves a full, transparent, and independent accounting of what happened.” He called for the Wisconsin DOJ investigation to be “allowed to do its work completely and without interference.”
The presumptive Republican candidate for governor and current U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany released a statement saying “any loss of life is tragic” and referenced his vote for 2013 Wisconsin Act 348, which required transparent and independent investigations of police-involved deaths. He also cautioned, “we should allow that process to establish the facts without politicians rushing to judgment or stoking division.”
While Tiffany’s challenger, Andy Manske has not made any official statement addressing the shooting, he called out what he sees as a "performative” and “reactionary” campaign content from Hong in the wake of the shooting in several posts on X.
