Madison police chief troubled by Walker's comments on protesters
By Sharif Durhams of the Journal Sentinel
Updated: Feb. 24, 2011 12:20 p.m. |(149) Comments
Madison Police Chief Noble Wray said Thursday that he found comments by Gov. Scott Walker made about protesters at the state Capitol during a prank phone call “very unsettling and troubling.”
In a statement, Wray said he spent time overnight thinking about the comments Walker made during a 20-minute conversation with a Buffalo, N.Y., blogger who posed as a major Republican donor during the call.
The blogger, Ian Murphy, suggested the idea of placing troublemakers amid the crowd of protesters.
Walker responded: “The only problem with that - because we thought about that. The problem with - my only gut reaction to that would be, right now the lawmakers I’ve talked to have just completely had it with them. The public is not really fond of this.”
Wray said he was disturbed that Walker thought about planting troublemakers among peaceful protesters.
“I would like to hear more of an explanation from Governor Walker as to what exactly was being considered, and to what degree it was discussed by his cabinet members. I find it very unsettling and troubling that anyone would consider creating safety risks for our citizens and law enforcement officers,” the chief said.
“Our department works hard dialoging with those who are exercising their First Amendment right, those from both sides of the issue, to make sure we are doing everything we can to ensure they can demonstrate safely. I am concerned that anyone would try to undermine these relationships. I have a responsibility to the community, and to the men and women of this department - who are working long hours protecting and serving this community – to find out more about what was being considered by state leaders.”more...
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/116828353.html
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
