Check out this email exchange with a person who had a concern. Chief Mike Koval is a piece of work! Note: The writer of the email lives on the block where Tony Robinson was shot.
Norm Littlejohn sent this email to the alders:
Dear Madison Alders:
Being unable to find a direct e-mail address for Chief of Police Koval, I’m sending this only to you. My intention was to copy the Chief on this e-mail.
I’m writing to thank you for making time for public comment on the death of Tony Robinson at your regular meeting last Tuesday, March 17. I commend you for not turning that public comment period into a debate, for letting people have their say and not arguing with them in defense of the Madison Police Department.
Chief Koval’s remarks to the Council the next day disturbed me. He seems to believe that it’s part of your job as Alders to defend a City department publicly during an investigation into the actions of one of its personnel. He seems to be unclear on the concept of civilian control of the police. And he seems to disregard the fact that he was appointed to his job, while the Common Council is elected by the citizens.
If a chief of police doesn’t understand what it means that he works for the City, I’m concerned that he doesn’t understand what it means that he, and every member of the MPD, works for the public.
I live in the 1200 block of Williamson Street, and there have been three deaths by police shooting in about the last ten years within a block of where I live. All of those shooting victims were impaired in one way or another, and at least two were unarmed; I don’t remember all the details of the shooting in (I think) 2005 or 2006 at the gas station in the 1100 block of Willy Street, but I remember that the victim had a history of mental health problems, and that he did not have a firearm.
We need all of you, including the Chief, to support stronger oversight of the police. We aren’t safe when officers do the things we know Officer Matthew Kenny did on the evening of March 6. We must change the training structure of the MPD, and hiring, disciplinary and firing practices, until we have police who willingly stay within constraints imposed on them through democratic processes.
I expect you to continue to listen with open minds, and to be an essential part of the process of making our police less inclined to use lethal force.
Thank you.
mkoval@cityofmadison.com for those of you who are wondering.
This is the chief’s response.
Thanks for the forward.
By the way, everyone’s needs in terms of being heard could have easily been accommodated with a rule of order known as the “Committee of the Whole.” Had that occurred, there would have at least been an opportunity to allow me to offer a rebuttal or provide comments (as well as the alders), following the public hearing. A deliberate choice was made to forego this simple option.
As it appears you have already reached a conclusion of Officer Matt Kenny’s actions on March 6th (“We aren’t safe when officers do the things we know Officer Kenny did on the evening of March 6), I guess there is really no use in waiting for facts when emotional hyperbole will suffice for you.
One last note. There is civilian oversight in the management of the Police. The obvious is the Police and Fire Commission, the DA’s Office, the Justice Department (i.e. Civil Rights investigations), civil lawsuits, and the more intangible—the media.
The MPD is constantly training to best practice standards, including the appropriate use of deadly force. We routinely create scenarios that necessitate disengagement, de-escalation, movement, creating distance and taking cover—all in efforts to avoid deadly force. We will continue to evaluate how we train and note developments that are occurring elsewhere to ensure that we are doing everything in our power(s) to avoid lethal confrontations.
Finally, in terms of my obligations to listen to all parties with an open mind, I do my best. At the end of the day, I make decisions based on what I feel is best for our community’s public safety interests as well as our officers.
Michael C. Koval, Chief of Police
Madison Police Department
211 S. Carroll Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53703
www.madisonpolice.com
mkoval@cityofmadison.com
(608) 266-4664
Fyi – I believe the council was advised by the city attorney not to comment pending the outcome of the investigation and that is why they didn’t do the committee of the whole, not to keep the Chief quiet. He could have registered for public comment if he wanted to. And, they probably did him a favor, since he tends to stick his foot in his mouth. Tho, I would have LOVED to have seen his response that night – I’m sure it wouldn’t have been pretty.
Norm responded:
Thanks for your response, Chief.
I hope you’re not contesting the most basic events of the evening of March 6: Officer Kenny entered a private dwelling without backup, and very quickly had shot an unarmed 19-year-old five times, wounding him in the torso and in the head. If you think that isn’t enough to cause citizens to worry about the actions of our police force, then you and I are likely never to agree on the role of police in our society.
Of course there’s civilian oversight of police in Madison. Unfortunately, as in most cities, it has very little in the way of teeth.
The Common Council conducts its meetings as it sees fit. It isn’t your role to presume to lecture them on how to do that. As Chief of Police, you have plenty of access to media, and all the opportunity you could need to make the points you want to make to the media and to the public. Most citizens can’t call a press conference and know that the media will be there. Most citizens, if they blog, don’t have their blog posts picked up and printed in the local daily newspaper. There’s no mystery for the Council or anyone else about your feelings in this situation.
Speaking of feelings, as you call for citizens and media to “wait for the facts,” do you really believe it’s necessary or appropriate for you to praise Officer Kenny as a “consummate professional”? Do you think a phrase like “drive-by disrespect” helps you build bridges to the African-American community in Madison? Your own feelings are showing, Chief, so maybe you shouldn’t criticize other people for showing theirs, people who are not responsible for the actions of our police department, as you are. You sought and got the job; if the heat is too much, maybe it’s time you reconsider.
The Council gave citizens an opportunity to express their anger about Tony Robinson’s death, and how it happened. I’m for that.
You have responsibilities that members of the general public don’t have. I’m hoping for cooler rhetoric, better yet silence from you until the investigation is concluded.
Take care. — Norm Littlejohn
That’s our chief, the Czar of Rightousness and King of Hurt Feelings.
Also, Norm points out:
hy·per·bo·le/hīˈpərbəlē/
noun
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.Chief needs a dictionary.
There’s a reason the Madison Police labor union endorsed Brenda’s opponent in her last aldermanic campaign. Perhaps because of that, Brenda is doubling down on her hate-the-cops vitriol. Chief Koval’s response was factual and restrained. It is becoming apparent that Tony Robinson is a black version of the white Paul Heenan — dangerously addled by irresponsible use of intoxicants/hallucinogenics. Kids, don’t make a play for a policeman’s weapon. You’ll live longer.
So, the chief says that public accountability comes from the media, but when the (free) media reports on him its somehow a problem? Vitriol? I think it was saracasm and facts.
To what facts are you referring? The chief is defending his department against pre-judgments (i.e. prejudices) accusing the officer and his department of racism. Officers have guns for their self-protection. It is not the call of duty for a police officer to subject him/herself to beatings by younger, stronger, crazed individuals. The chief’s response was civil. He just disagrees with this particular critic.
Brenda, why did you omit the black neighborhood leader asking for more police protection when you videotaped (part of) the chief’s open house at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Meadowood?
What in the hell is going on?
All, including the Chief need stop saying “wait for the facts” when what they mean is “wait for the officers story”, whether or not it was corroborated by evidence or a witness.
Within hours of Tony’s death, likely before the officer had been interviewed by DCI, before we had “facts” and a finished investigation, Chief Koval reported the officer was struck, without corroborating evidence. He reported the allegations that had been made in a 911 call and immediately, people started quoting these alleged details as “fact”. Chief Wray did this and got the same response.
For those getting excited about toxicology of the dead, it’s important to remember that the officers actions cannot, will not be justified or condemned based on on anything found in a toxicology report. And unless these negligents** have a history of dedicating time and print space towards banning freshman binge drinking and pre-game tail-gaiting, their “concern” is really nothing more than a manufactured opportunity to condemn a dead person. Gross. What if Tony had autism? What would the lazy slobs say then? http://fusion.net/story/108719/cops-shoot-womans-autistic-son-in-the-face-get-a-settlement-four-times-as-big-as-hers/
The chief called the group of citizens allowed into the CC building an “angry mob” of protestors but there is this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh4GDn2xgrA
and this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LphfFAKLNuE&t=95
The chief said the two teen “witnesses” (who had just seen the aftermath of their friend being turned apart by bullets, who were not allowed the 48 hours and support the officer receives before giving a statement) were allowed to walk any time and have access to their attorneys and that DCI was making the call but then, there is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZZBLo6pFVE
and this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDNI56sezkA
**Necessity is the Mother of new nouns and since folks are making up “facts”, I took the liberty and it works well for my argument, don’t you think?
I know “facts” are a hard concept for you . .. I reported the “facts” of the email exchange. And wrote some snarky sarcastic comments in between. But very, very, little, I just shed a little sunlight on what happened. You may not appreciate that the chief looks like a jerk, but that’s his fault, not mine.
Dave, I know it’s time-honored tradition with you to get everything wrong, but Brenda didn’t write most of this; Chief Koval and I did. I’m quickgeezer and Norm Littlejohn.
There’s no vitriol in either side of the e-mail exchange between me and the Chief, or in what Brenda wrote. You tried, but as usual, your vitriol is weak vinegar. Sorry, Dave, but you just aren’t up to it. Maybe you need to stop buying your ideology in bulk at Sam’s Club, or check the label for the sell-by date.
If you have evidence that Tony Robinson “made a play for a policeman’s weapon,” I think the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation would like to hear from you. If you don’t have that evidence, stop slandering a dead 19-year-old.
“To what facts are you referring?” you ask. Like the Chief, you seem to want to forget that we know that Officer Kenny entered that house without backup and shot and killed Tony Robinson. Much as you’d like to change the subject, those events remain facts.
As does the fact that Tony Robinson (RIP) was hallucinating on magical mushrooms, as does the fact that Officer Kenny was a much-praised police officer, as does the fact that the late Mr. Robinson was a convicted felon (armed robbery). As does the fact that police received reports that the late Mr. Robinson was assaulting someone. As does the fact that police themselves (and feel free to doubt their word, that’s why an independent investigation) say Officer Kenny was himself assaulted as he responded. Ss does the fact that Young & Foolish demands the officer be fired and prosecuted without waiting for that independent investigation. As does the fact that Brandi Grayson has “predicted” blood in the streets if she doesn’t get her way.
Take your bait and go fish someplace else.
quickgeezer = Norm Littlejohn
Magic mushrooms, convicted felon; not capital crimes, Dave. And we don’t usually allow summary execution for those crimes, or for assaulting an officer, if that happened. It’s true that there are lots of details we don’t know yet, but here, again, are the known facts that make you so desperate to change the subject:
Officer Kenny entered a private dwelling without backup, thus increasing his own jeopardy and making him more likely to use force, knowing he was alone. He shot Tony Robinson five times, including in the torso and in the head.
A misjudgment at that level indicates that Officer Kenny shouldn’t be an armed officer on the street. His previous record is irrelevant to what he did on March 6. Killing Tony Robinson isn’t something that happened to Matthew Kenny; it’s something he did. He should never have a chance to do it again under color of law, and under the retroactive protection of people like you who are fine with that level of police power, because they believe it will never touch them personally.
You’re missing some factory-original parts, Dave.
“… thus increasing his own jeopardy …” — The verdict is in! No need for an independent review. And “… under color of law.” What law would that be? Yes, I know. Let’s recycle our Martin Niemöller: “at first, the police came for the hallucinogenic gang banger. But I said nothing. Then they came for me.”
Gang banger? Seriously Dave, go away, you’re not contributing to anything productive.
Spread your hate elsewhere.
Hate. Telling our young people to fly right and helping them do so? That is hate?
Not that the lynch mob for an honest, compassionate, and sober police officer isn’t hate. You’ve had a chance, Brenda, to be productive. What have you got to show for it but a pile of refuse in front of the City-County Bldg.?
Calling people who have nowhere to go “a pile of refuse”; calling Tony Robinson a gang banger because he was mixed race; calling citizens who want police accountability a lynch mob. Yeah, hate, as usual from you, Dave. Who have you ever helped to fly right, since you only fly wrong?
You have no respect for truth, you’re blinded to reality by your bitter preconceptions, and I’ve never heard you speak or seen you write with constructive intent. You’re a sour smudge, Dave, a thoroughgoing waste of time with no apparent redeeming grace. Done with you. Good luck getting even with the world.
Does Robert Crumb know you’re using his image?