Former Milwaukee Bucks player and Gingras, Thomsen & Wachs client Sterling Brown, whose 2018 tasing by police led to a settlement with the city of Milwaukee and policy changes in the police department, has accepted an invitation from U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore to attend President Joe Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address.
In light of the recent Tyre Nichols tragedy, Moore’s invitation aims to send a message to the President that ongoing police brutality requires immediate attention and action.
Brown was tased by police in January 2018 after what reportedly began as a parking violation. Body camera footage from the incident showed that Brown remained calm and polite in his interactions with officers before they took him to the ground and arrested him. No criminal charges were ever made against Brown.
Brown and his lawyer, GTW partner Mark Thomsen, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city in June 2018, claiming that Milwaukee police used excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
More than three years after the incident, in 2021, the Milwaukee Common Council voted to authorize a historic $750,000 settlement in the case. As part of the settlement, the city of Milwaukee promised to modify its police department standard operating procedures (SOPs) and introduce a “discipline matrix” to ensure meaningful consequences for violations.
Rep. Moore and Sterling Brown hope his presence at the State of the Union address will continue to spark meaningful conversation about policing reform and lead to systemic, long-term change.
Read the final settlement status report and revised MPD standard operating procedures here.
Read more about the model for change here.
Additional News Coverage:
https://cbs58.com/news/congresswoman-gwen-moore-invites-sterling-brown-to-state-of-the-union
Related GTW Updates:
https://www.gtwlawyers.com/blog/sterling-brown-civil-rights-lawsuit-gcw-2/
