DOJ Closes Review into the Death of Dontre Hamilton
Washington, DC,
November 10, 2015
As a mother to two young Black men, I am especially saddened by the Department of Justice's decision not to bring criminal civil rights charges against Officer Christopher Manney. More than eighteen months have passed since Officer Manney fatally shot Dontre Hamilton – an unarmed Black man struggling with mental illness – and many unanswered questions still remain. Although this decision is certainly a setback, it is by no means the end of our collective efforts to pursue justice for the Hamilton family. I continue to hold them in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time, as I know the wounds from such a devastating loss will take time to heal.
Washington, D.C. – In response to the Department of Justice’s decision not to bring criminal civil rights charges against Milwaukee Police Officer Christopher Manney, the officer who shot and killed Dontre Hamilton, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) released the following statement: “As a mother to two young Black men, I am especially saddened by the Department of Justice’s decision not to bring criminal civil rights charges against Officer Christopher Manney. More than eighteen months have passed since Officer Manney fatally shot Dontre Hamilton – an unarmed Black man struggling with mental illness – and many unanswered questions still remain. Although this decision is certainly a setback, it is by no means the end of our collective efforts to pursue justice for the Hamilton family. I continue to hold them in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time, as I know the wounds from such a devastating loss will take time to heal. “As we saw in the case of Mr. Hamilton, men and women battling mental illness are all too often confronted by our criminal justice system with disastrous results. As we move forward, we must work to prevent further tragedies by providing law enforcement officials with the tools they need to safely interact with mentally ill individuals and holding officers accountable for their actions. “With violence in Milwaukee on the rise, we must strive to mend the relationship between the police and the people they serve, especially for those with disabilities and in communities of color.” ### |
